The purpose of this study is to compare intranasal fluticasone spray with budesonide nasal saline rinses in both the upright and head forward positions in patients who have had functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and measure differences in Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) scores and Lund- Kennedy scores on rigid nasal endoscopy at time points 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months post-op.
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory condition of the lining of the nose and sinuses that lasts 12 weeks or longer with objective evidence of mucosal inflammation (1). CRSwNP is characterized by the presence of bilateral nasal polyps in the middle meatus. Patients with CRSwNP for whom medical therapy has failed, often have functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Nasal steroids are important post-operatively to prevent polyps from recurring. Many studies have shown that nasal steroids are superior to placebo in maintaining improvement in symptom scores, such as SNOT-22, post-operatively by preventing polyps from returning (2). Nasal steroids can reduce inflammation locally and can prevent disease relapse without the systemic effects of oral steroids. However, there is no consensus as to which nasal steroid and which delivery method is most effective in treating these patients. Traditional nasal sprays, such as fluticasone spray, may not deliver the medication widely in the nasal cavity. Budesonide is available in a respule form that can be used to instill the medication in the nose. In an attempt to more effectively deliver the medication, changes in patient's head position has been prescribed to achieve better delivery (3). The safety of intranasal budesonide, a more potent steroid than fluticasone, has been established (4, 5). However, any improved efficacy over fluticasone nasal spray remains anecdotal as head to head comparisons have not previously been performed. Practice patterns among rhinologists in the post-operative prescription of nasal steroids vary widely. Determining which medication/delivery method is more effective will help rhinologists better treat their patients and prevent symptoms, for which the surgery was performed, from returning.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32
use 2-50 mcg sprays to each nostril two times per day
(0.5 mg/2mL) to instill into each nostril in the upright position two times per day
(0.5 mg/2mL) to instill into each nostril in the head forward position two times per day
Yale Physicians Bldg
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Yale ENT Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut, United States
SNOT-22 Scores
SNOT22 is a validated scale which measures sinonasal symptoms for sinusitis patients. The 22 questions are rated on a scale of 0-5 for a maximum total score of 110. Higher scores represent more symptomatic patients.
Time frame: 6 months post-op.
Lund-Kennedy Scoring for Nasal Endoscopy
The Lund Kennedy scoring system for nasal endoscopy rates the severity of the sinusitis based on the endoscopic appearance of the nasal mucosa. Edema, secretions and the presence of polyps are rated from 0-2, for a total maximum score of 6 per each side of the nose. Higher scores represent more severe disease.
Time frame: 6 months post-op
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