Comparison of effects of baby shampoo vs. saline irrigation on endoscopic sinus surgery outcomes and quality of life

Abstract

Objective: Nasal irrigation is an important step of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) postoperative care. This study was performed to compare the effects of diluted baby shampoo (BS) and normal saline solution (NSS) irrigation on patients' quality of life (QoL) and surgical outcomes after FESS.

Methods: This study included 77 patients who underwent FESS to treat chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Lund-Mackay score, Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score (LKES), synechia score and QoL (using the Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22)) were evaluated.

Results: LKES was significantly better in the BS group (p=0.001), especially in terms of nasal discharge and crust formation (p=0.024 and p=0.030, respectively) at 1 month postoperatively. However, no significant difference was found at 3, 6 or 12 months postoperatively (p=0.833, p=0.263, and p=0.346, respectively). The reduction of SNOT-22 score (between preoperative assessment and 1 month postoperatively) was significantly better in the BS than in the NSS group (p=0.025). However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups at 3, 6, or 12 months postoperatively (p=0.312, p=0.280, and p=0.285, respectively). In the evaluation of SNOT-22 subdomains, changes in psychological, rhinological and extranasal rhinological subdomains were significantly better in the BS group at 1 month postoperatively (p=0.019, p=0.010 and p=0.002, respectively).

Conclusion: Compared to irrigation with NSS, BS usage following FESS led to reductions of crusting, nasal discharge and synechia formation; moreover, it was associated with improved SNOT-22 scores, especially in psychological, rhinological and extranasal rhinological subdomains.