Double-blind, randomised controlled trial on the efficacy of saline nasal irrigation with sodium hyaluronate after endoscopic sinus surgery

Objective There is a growing interest in sodium hyaluronate for the clinical management of patients who undergo functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis, because of the mucosal regenerative properties of this macromolecule. However, its role in post-operative care is still debated. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sodium hyaluronate administered via nasal irrigation with saline, in the post-operative period, after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods A multicentric, prospective, randomised, double-blind, parallel group study was conducted on 56 consecutive patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps. Group 1 received the standard therapy of normal saline; group 2 received saline plus sodium hyaluronate. Results Both objective and subjective measurements, in terms of endoscopic appearance and patient-reported satisfaction, were significantly better in group 2 compared to group 1. Conclusion Sodium hyaluronate may be a useful adjunct to nasal saline irrigation in the early post-operative period following functional endoscopic sinus surgery.