Nasalance Changes in Nasal Disease Patients after Nasal Cavity Operation

비질환 환자에서 비강수술 후 비음도 변화

Background and Objectives : This study was designed to examine the effect of nasal cavity surgery on voice in terms of nasalance by using subjective test, Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Nasometer and compare the pre op and post op results among patiets with nasal cavity disease. Materials and Method : From April 2009 to November 2009, data of thirty one patients who underwent nasal cavity surgery were prospectively evaluated. 24 males and 7 females with age range between 12 years to 80 years old (average 34 years old) were chosen. VAS was questioned to patients group before, after 1 week, after 1 month, and after 3 months from the surgery. Nasometer, was also conducted. Results: After the surgery symptoms like nasal obstruction, mouth breath, snoring, and sleep apnea were all improved. Improvements for nasal obstruction and mouth breath were observed statistically in post operative day (POD) 1 month and POD 3 months. Also snoring was improved statistically in POD 1 month. Objective nasalance test showed increases in a single and double vowel for POD 3 months. Only /je/ sound statistically-significant increased in all post operative periods. Nasalance increase were observed in other test results. Conclusion : All the symptoms are improved after nasal cavity surgery. Also there are some nasalance changes during whole period of study and return to the pre operative state in POD 3 months. Therefore, patients must be warned and understood about nasalance changes, and surgeons need to aware of various facts, which can affect voice changes before the surgery.