Effects of nasal irrigation after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection in patients with pituitary adenomas: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: We aimed to explore the methods to reduce or prevent nasal complications after endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma resection. We also examined the effects of nasal irrigation after this procedure was performed. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was performed. Sixty patients of a tertiary hospital were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. The subjects of the control group were given routine guidance, and 20 mL of normal saline was atomized through inhalation. The gauze was removed 7 days after surgery. The patients of the intervention group were given 50 mL of a 2% saline solution at 37°C to 38°C for bilateral nasal irrigation for 1 week. After that, patients were given 50 mL of a 0.9% normal saline solution at 37°C to 38°C for bilateral nasal irrigations. The complications of the two groups were collected at baseline, 1 week after intervention, 1 month, and 3 months after intervention. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: A 1-month after intervention, there were significant differences in dysosmia, epistaxis, and nasal adhesion between the intervention and control groups. A 3-month after intervention, only olfactory disturbances were significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal irrigation helps reduce the incidence of complications such as epistaxis and nasal adhesions in the early postoperative period. It can also promote the elimination or reduction of olfactory disturbances.