Balloon Sinuplasty Efficiency in Maxillary Rhinosinusitis.

Change from baseline Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score at 3 months

The effect of balloon sinuplasty treatment in chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis is measured primarily with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) is a patient-reported measure of outcome developed for use in chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis. It can be used to assess the impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on the patient's quality of life. It may also be used to measure the outcome of a surgical intervention (Hopkins et al. 2009). In this study, SNOT-22 translated in Finnish is used. The validation of the Finnish version has been made by the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim.

Change from baseline Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score at 6 months

The effect of balloon sinuplasty treatment in chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis is measured primarily with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) is a patient-reported measure of outcome developed for use in chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis. It can be used to assess the impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on the patient's quality of life. It may also be used to measure the outcome of a surgical intervention (Hopkins et al. 2009). In this study, SNOT-22 translated in Finnish is used. The validation of the Finnish version has been made by the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim.

Change from baseline Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score at 9 months

The effect of balloon sinuplasty treatment in chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis is measured primarily with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) is a patient-reported measure of outcome developed for use in chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis. It can be used to assess the impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on the patient's quality of life. It may also be used to measure the outcome of a surgical intervention (Hopkins et al. 2009). In this study, SNOT-22 translated in Finnish is used. The validation of the Finnish version has been made by the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim.

Change from baseline Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score at 12 months

The effect of balloon sinuplasty treatment in chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis is measured primarily with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) is a patient-reported measure of outcome developed for use in chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis. It can be used to assess the impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on the patient's quality of life. It may also be used to measure the outcome of a surgical intervention (Hopkins et al. 2009). In this study, SNOT-22 translated in Finnish is used. The validation of the Finnish version has been made by the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim.

Amount of sick leaves

The number of sick leaves during the last year, last 6 and last 3 months is asked preoperatively, focusing on the sick leaves that are caused because of chronic or recurrent rhinosinusitis. Also, the information about the postoperative sick leaves is collected during all the controls in order to find out whether the amount of sick leaves changes after the operation or not.

Number of antibiotic treatments needed

One way to estimate the effectiveness of balloon sinuplasty is to collect the data of antibiotic treatments. Especially in the cases of recurrent acute rhinosinusitis this is valid information. In this study, the number of antibiotic treatments during the last year, last 6 and last 3 months is checked from the Prescription Centre. Also, the information about the postoperative antibiotic treatments is collected during all the controls from the Prescription Centre in order to find out whether the amount of antibiotic treatments changes after the operation or not.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7)

Eustachian tube dysfunction is a common condition which causes ear symptoms such as clogging and popping. The condition is also commonly associated with chronic sinusitis. The ETDQ-7 is a valid and reliable symptom score for use in adult patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction. It is a 7-item questionnaire which inquires patient´s ear symptoms. It is easily administered in the clinical setting and has minimal burden to respondents (McCoul et al. 2012). In this study ETDQ-7 is used to evaluate patient´s possible ear symptoms which refer to Eustachian tube dysfunction. Patients fill the ETDQ-7-questionnaire preoperatively and during all the controls.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a measurement instrument that tries to measure a characteristic or attitude that is believed to range across a continuum of values and cannot easily be directly measured. Operationally a VAS is usually a horizontal line, 100 mm in length, anchored by word descriptors at each end. The patient marks on the line the point that they feel represents their perception of their current state. The VAS score is determined by measuring in millimetres from the left-hand end of the line to the point that the patient marks (Wewers and Lowe 1990). In this study, VAS is used to measure the symptoms of nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure and olfactory disorder. Patients report their symptoms preoperatively and during all the controls.

Adverse events

Information about possible postoperative adverse events is asked and determined during the clinical post-operative visits at 3 and 12 months. The patients are asked about possible postoperative adverse events also in the web based electronic question forms which the patients fill at 6 and 9 months post-operative.

General evaluation of the patient and clinical ORL-status

Careful ORL-status is made preoperatively and during the postoperative visits at 3 and 12 months. Focus is on the nasal status and especially on the structure, abnormalities and other findings. Careful ear status is also performed because of the interest on the correlation between chronic rhinosinusitis and Eustachian tube dysfunction.