Improving your approach to nasal obstruction

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Applied Evidence

Improving your approach to nasal obstruction

J Fam Pract. 2016 December;65(12):889-893,898-899

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References

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2. US Census Bureau. Table 158. Visits to office-based physician and hospital outpatient departments, 2006. Available at: http://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2006/compendia/statab/126ed/tables/07s0158.xls. Accessed November 13, 2016.

3. Dykewicz MS, Hamilos DL. Rhinitis and sinusitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010;125:S103-S115.

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5. Krouse J, Lund V, Fokkens W, et al. Diagnostic strategies in nasal congestion. Int J Gen Med. 2010;3:59-67.

6. Skoner DP. Allergic rhinitis: definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, detection, and diagnosis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001;108:S2-S8.

7. Newton JR, Ah-See KW. A review of nasal polyposis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2008;4:507-512.

8. Badia L, Lund V. Topical corticosteroids in nasal polyposis. Drugs. 2001;61:573-578.

9. Fahrenholz JM. Natural history and clinical features of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2003;24:113-124.

10. van den Aardweg MT, Schilder AG, Herket E, et al. Adenoidectomy for recurrent or chronic nasal symptoms in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;CD008282.

11. Demirhan H, Aksoy F, Ozturan O, et al. Medical treatment of adenoid hypertrophy with “fluticasone propionate nasal drops”. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010;74:773-776.

12. Shokouhi F, Jahromi AM, Majidi MR, et al. Montelukast in adenoid hypertrophy: its effect on size and symptoms. Iran J Otorhinolaryngol. 2015;27:433-448.

13. Goldbart AD, Greenberg-Dotan S, Tai A. Montelukast for children with obstructive sleep apnea: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Pediatrics. 2012;130:e575-e580.

14. Moss WJ, Kjos KB, Karnezis TT, et al. Intranasal steroid injections and blindness: our personal experience and a review of the past 60 years. Laryngoscope. 2015;125:796-800.

15. Chusakul S, Warathanasin S, Suksangpanya N, et al. Comparison of buffered and nonbuffered nasal saline irrigations in treating allergic rhinitis. Laryngoscope. 2013;123:53-56.

16. Xu Y, Zhang J, Wang J. The efficacy and safety of selective H1-antihistamine versus leukotriene receptor antagonist for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2014;9:e112815.

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19. Kennedy DW. Prognostic factors, outcomes and staging in ethmoid sinus surgery. Laryngoscope.1992;102:1-18.

20. Khalil HS, Nunez DA. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;CD004458.

21. Chambers DW, Davis WE, Cook PR, et al. Long-term outcome analysis of functional endoscopic sinus surgery: correlation of symptoms with endoscopic examination findings and potential prognostic variables. Laryngoscope. 1997;107:504-510.

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Elderly patients represent another population for which adverse effects must be carefully considered. Allergies in individuals >65 years of age are uncommon. Rhinitis in this age group is often secondary to cholinergic hyperactivity, alpha-adrenergic hyperactivity, or rhinosinusitis. Given elderly patients’ increased susceptibility to the potential adverse central nervous system (CNS) and anticholinergic effects of antihistamines, non-sedating medications are recommended. Oral decongestants also should be used with caution in this population, not only because of CNS effects, but also because of heart and bladder effects³ (TABLE 2¹⁸).

For drug-induced rhinitis, stop the offending drug and consider an INGC

Several types of medications, both oral and inhaled, are known to cause rhinitis. The use of alpha-adrenergic decongestant sprays for more than 5 to 7 days can induce rebound congestion on withdrawal, known as rhinitis medicamentosa.³ Repeated use of intranasal cocaine and methamphetamines can also result in rebound congestion. Oral medications that can result in rhinitis or congestion include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), oral contraceptives, and even antidepressants.³

The treatment for drug-induced rhinitis is termination of the offending agent. INGCs can be used to help decrease inflammation and control symptoms once the offending agent is discontinued.

Mechanical/structural causes of obstruction are wide-ranging

Mechanical/structural causes of nasal obstruction range from foreign bodies to anatomical variations including nasal polyps, a deviated septum, adenoidal hypertrophy, foreign bodies, and tumors. Because more than one etiology may be at work, it is best to first treat any non-mechanical causes of obstruction, such as ARS or NARS.

Nasal polyposis often requires both a medical and surgical approach

Nasal polyps are benign growths arising from the mucosa of the nasal sinuses and nasal cavities and affecting up to 4% of the population.⁷ Their etiology is unclear, but we do know that nasal polyps result from underlying inflammation.⁷ Uncommon in children outside of those affected by cystic fibrosis,⁷ nasal polyposis can be associated with disease processes such as AR and sinusitis. Polyps are also associated with clinical syndromes such as aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) syndrome, which involves upper and lower respiratory tract symptoms in patients with asthma who have taken aspirin or other NSAIDs.⁹

Leukotriene receptor agonists may be better suited to nighttime symptoms of nasal obstruction, while oral antihistamines may be better suited to daytime symptoms.Symptoms vary with the location and size of the polyps, but generally include nasal congestion, alteration in smell, and rhinorrhea. The goals of treatment are to restore or improve nasal breathing and olfaction and prevent recurrence.⁸This often requires both a medical and surgical approach.

Topical corticosteroids are effective at reducing both the size of polyps and associated symptoms (rhinorrhea, rhinitis).⁸ And research has shown that steroids reduce the need for both primary and repeat surgical polypectomies.⁴ Other treatments to consider prior to surgery (if no symptom reduction occurs with INGCs) include systemic (oral) corticosteroids, intra-polyp steroid injections, macrolide antibiotics, and nasal washes.^7,14

When symptoms of polyposis are refractory to medical management, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the surgical procedure of choice.³ In addition to refractory symptoms, indications for FESS include the need to correct anatomic deformities believed to be contributing to the persistence of disease and the need to debulk advanced nasal polyposis.³ The principal goal is to restore patency to the ostiomeatal unit.³

Several studies have reported a high success rate for FESS in improving the symptoms of CRS.^3,19-23 In a 1992 study, for example, 98% of patients reported improvement following surgery,¹⁹ and in a follow-up report approximately 6 years later, 98% of patients continued to report subjective improvement.²²

For septal etiologies, consider septoplasty

Deviation of the nasal septum is a common structural etiology for nasal obstruction arising primarily from congenital, genetic, or traumatic causes.²⁴ Turbulent airflow from the septal deviation often causes turbinate hypertrophy, which creates (or exacerbates) the obstructive symptoms from the septal deviation.²⁵

Septoplasty is the most common ear, nose, and throat operation in adults.²⁶ Reduction of nasal symptoms has been reported in up to 89% of patients who receive this surgery, according to one single-center, non-randomized trial.²⁷ Currently, at least one multicenter, randomized trial is underway that aims to develop evidence-based guidelines for septoplasty.²⁶

Septal perforation is another etiology that can present with nasal obstruction symptoms. Causes include traumatic perforation, inflammatory or collagen vascular diseases, infections, overuse of vasoconstrictive medications, and malignancy.^28,29 A careful inspection of the nasal septum is necessary to identify a perforation; this may require nasal endoscopy.

Although adenoidectomy is commonly performed to correct adenoid hypertrophy in children, current evidence regarding the efficacy of the procedure is inconclusive.Anterior, rather than posterior, perforations are more likely to cause symptoms of nasal obstruction. Posterior perforations rarely require treatment unless malignancy is suspected, in which case referral for biopsy is recommended. Anterior perforations are treated initially with avoidance of any causative agent if, for example, the problem is drug- or medication-induced, and then with humidification and emollients.^28,29

For anterior perforations, septal silicone buttons can be used for recalcitrant symptoms. However, observational studies indicate that for long-term symptom resolution, silicone buttons are effective in only about one-third of patients.²⁹

For patients with persistent symptoms despite the above measures, surgical repair with various flap techniques is an option. A meta-analysis of case studies involving various techniques concluded that there is a wide variety of options, and that surgeons must weigh factors such as the characteristics and etiology of the perforation and their own experience and expertise when choosing from among available methods.³⁰Additional good quality research is necessary before clear recommendations regarding technique can be made.