Journal Reviews
Does middle turbinate resection affect olfaction in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery?
The middle turbinates (MT) are sometimes partially resected during endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery to improve surgical access. Some outfracture the middle turbinates instead. This article presents results of the first prospective randomised study, investigating the effects of such surgery...
A new hope for post-COVID olfactory loss?
Does anyone remember COVID? It seems that what happened between 2019 and 2021 is all but forgotten about. Aside from it cropping up on news feeds occasionally and a few out-of-date automated phone messages that start off with ‘During the...
How much does FESS improve the sense of smell?
We are all familiar with patients who undergo a seemingly successful FESS but, in spite of this, have persistent smell dysfunction postoperatively. This study compares a surgical group with a control group, measuring olfactory function pre and postoperatively using Sniffin...
CRSwNP and smell – is it just the obstruction?
Anosmia and hyposmia are symptoms of CRS both with and without nasal polyps and can significantly affect quality of life. The nature of anosmia/hyposmia is thought to be both sensory-neural and conductive. These authors studied a mouse model in which...
Widen the ostium or keep it: that is the question
The original concept of wide endoscopic sphenoethmoidectomy for sinonasal polyposis has been a well-established principle since 1995. However, with the evolution of the understanding of sinonasal physiology, this might change. The authors present arguments based on the evolutionary and developmental...
Growing up smelling the roses
How often do we ask about sense of smell in children? Undoubtedly, the olfactory function is seldom formally assessed in the paediatric population, although evidence exists to suggest its potential links with handicap in children’s learning and development. This large...
The impact of rhino-sinusitis treatment on olfaction
This study included 28 adults prospectively enrolled between March 2011 and May 2013 into a non-randomised, multi-institutional cohort. Adults electing endoscopic sinus surgery experienced gains in olfaction comparable to adults electing continued medical management. The evidence in this study comparing...
