Nasal ciliary beat after insertion of septo-valvular splints.

Abstract

At present, endonasal paraseptal splints are devices frequently employed in rhinosurgery. We evaluated the local tolerance of a newly shaped device, the Guastella/Mantovani splint (G/M-SVS), with respect to the physiological mechanism of mucociliary clearance. The study involved 20 patients who underwent septoplasty and/or turbinoplasty or other nasal surgical procedures. A sample of ciliated cells was obtained by nasal brushing and was examined ex vivo to determine the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and morphology, before and 15 days after surgery. Before surgery the mean CBF was 10.87 Hz +/- 0.56 Hz and when splints were removed it was 10.25 Hz +/- 1.9 Hz. Morphological evaluation of the ciliary motion after surgery demonstrated a normal, coordinated beat. The G/M-SVS does not appear to interfere with the physiological mechanism of mucociliary clearance since CBF remain within a normal range. This is the first study that demonstrates an optimal tolerability and safety of the septo-valvular splints on nasal mucosa.