Abstract
Background
Posterior nasal neurectomy (PNN) has been shown to reduce the symptom burden of patients with perennial moderate and severe allergic rhinitis (AR).
Objectives
To evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of PNN for the treatment of perennial moderate and severe AR.
Methods
A prospective 3-year single-arm study was conducted in which the reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) and total non-nasal symptom score (rTNNSS) were collected preoperatively and at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years postoperatively.
Results
A total of 213 patients with AR were recruited and received PNN, of whom 154 patients completed the 3-year follow-up. The mean rTNSS of the long-term follow-up patients improved from 7.74 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.507-7.974) at baseline to 2.604 (95% CI 2.221-2.986), P < .001, at 6 months and showed sustained improvement to 3.156 (95% CI 2.806-3.506), P < .001, at 3 years. The mean rTNNSS ranged from 1.301 (95% CI 1.112-1.491) at baseline to 0.564 (95% CI 0.441-0.688) (P < .001) at 6 months and showed sustained improvement to 0.641 (95% CI 0.533-0.749) (P < .001) at 3 years. The rTNSS subscores (sneezing, congestion, rhinorrhea, and itching) and rTNNSS subscores (lacrimation, eye itching, postnasal drip, and cough) remained significantly improved from the baseline at all follow-up time points (all P < .001).
Conclusion
Posterior nasal neurectomy significantly and sustainably alleviated nasal and non-nasal symptoms of perennial moderate and severe AR and improved patient quality of life through 3 years postprocedure.
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