Evaluation of patient satisfaction in open technique septorhinoplasty

Aim: To evaluate patient satisfaction postoperatively via nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE), rhinoplasty outcomes evaluation (ROE) and visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires, evaluate the reliability of these questionnaires in respect to each other for routine usage in daily clinical practice.Material and Methods: This study was carried out from January 2008 to 2011 in Vakıf Gureba Research and Training Hospital, 1. Ear-Nose and Throat Clinic and Bezmialem Vakif University, Otorhinolaryngology Department. Fourty five cases were included in the study: 35.6 % were female (n=16) and 64.4 % were men (n=29); mean age was 31.62 ± 31.00 (range, 18-61) years. Mean duration of follow up was 12.89 ± 7.17 (range, 6-30) months. Patients were contacted 6 months after surgery and questioned for satisfaction in terms of function and cosmetics. NOSE, ROE questionnaires were given and patients were asked to evaluate their preoperative state retrospectively and current state in comparison to their preoperative status. An effective comparison was aimed with this study design. Patients were asked to evaluate their nose pre- and postoperatively via VAS questionnaire in esthetic and functional aspects separately.Results: Postoperative NOSE scores were significantly lower compared to preoperative NOSE scores (p<0.01). NOSE scores reduced markedly, average decrease in NOSE score was 61.11 ± 25.89. Postoperative ROE scores increased significantly compared to preoperative scores; mean of difference was was 54.26 ± 18.85. Postoperative functional VAS scores increased significantly compared to preoperative scores (p<0.01); mean of difference was 58.44 ± 23.83. Postoperative functional VAS scores increased significantly compared to preoperative scores; mean of difference was 58.44 ± 23.83. Postoperative esthetic VAS scores increased significantly compared to preoperative scores (p<0.01), mean of difference was 54.22 ± 22.91. All scores were found to be correlated and in accordance with each other.Discussion: Patient satisfaction in terms of function and cosmetics is the main criteria for a successful septorhinoplasty operation. Subjective evaluation forms are more suitable for evaluation of patient satisfaction instead of objective methods. Quality of life questionnaires are reliable and practical tools for assessing effectiveness of surgical operations.Conclusion: Septorhinoplasty operation, when carried out due to correct indication, increases quality of life of patients in social, physical and psychological aspects.Keywords: Septorhinoplasty, nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE), rhinoplasty outcomes evaluation (ROE), patient satisfaction