To assess the prevalence of abnormal rhinological findings in a Sjögren's syndrome population.

A cohort-matched, prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted. Sixty-seven subjects (30 patients and 37 controls) were enrolled. Rhinological assessment including smell threshold was evaluated using a standardised, validated clinical test as part of a larger study.

Smell thresholds were –4.4 and –5.4 in the Sjögren's syndrome and control groups, respectively (p = 0.001). Hyposmia (threshold values of less than −4.5) was demonstrated in the Sjögren's syndrome group (47 per cent). Smell was negatively correlated with age (p = 0.040). Nasal septal perforation was noted in 3 Sjögren's syndrome patients (10 per cent) and nasal mucosal dryness in 10 patients (33 per cent), but none of the control group were affected.

Hyposmia in Sjögren's syndrome was demonstrated using the Smell Threshold Test. Nasal septal perforation and nasal mucosa dryness were also noted in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. A diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome should be considered and investigated in smell deprivation and/or nasal septal perforation patients.

This study compared the efficacy of microwave ablation and silver nitrate cautery as treatments for idiopathic recurrent anterior epistaxis in adults.

A case series with chart review was conducted. Adults with recurrent anterior epistaxis intra-operatively treated via microwave ablation or silver nitrate chemical cautery of the anterior nasal septum were enrolled. The primary outcomes were the proportion of patients in each group for whom bleeding ceased within 24 hours of treatment, and the time to successful haemostasis. The secondary outcomes were re-bleeding rates at 1 and 12 weeks and 6 months, and complications.

The haemostasis success rate within 24 hours’ treatment of convex lesions was significantly higher in the microwave ablation group than in the cautery-only group. Of patients with convex lesions, the recurrence rate to six months was significantly higher in the cautery group than in the microwave ablation group, but this was not the case for those with flat lesions.

Microwave ablation afforded rapid and simple haemostasis for adults with recurrent anterior epistaxis in an out-patient setting. Microwave ablation had significant advantages compared to silver nitrate cautery when used to treat epistaxis in patients with convex lesions.

This study aimed to analyse the common presentations and treatment outcomes in cases involving nasal foreign bodies.

A retrospective study was carried out over three years, from January 2014 to December 2017. Patient biodata, clinical presentation, nasal foreign body type and management outcome data were obtained from the medical records and analysed.

A total of 341 cases were analysed. The average patient age was 3.7 ± 1.2 years (range, 1–19 years).Of the nine cases involving button batteries, septal perforation was initially seen in four cases and three cases had subsequent septal perforation.

Only button battery nasal foreign bodies were associated with increased septal perforation. Use of physiological seawater nasal spray was found to reduce the likelihood of septal perforation. Most nasal foreign bodies could be removed under local anaesthesia.

To assess success rates and symptom control after surgical treatment of nasal septal perforation.

A prospective study was undertaken of 28 consecutive patients with symptomatic nasal septal perforation treated surgically by one surgeon between 2005 and 2007. All patients underwent an open rhinoplasty approach with bilateral superior and inferior nasal mucosal advancement flaps and acellular porcine collagen placed in between. Symptom severity was assessed pre- and post-operatively using a validated visual analogue score. The nasal valve angle was assessed pre- and post-operatively by two independent assessors.

Patients comprised 12 women and 16 men, with a mean age of 45 years (range: 21–76). The mean follow up was 16 months (range: 6–24). The mean vertical and horizontal diameters of the perforations were 22 mm (range: 10–35) and 27 mm (range: 10–37), respectively. Twenty-seven (96 per cent) patients had complete closure of nasal septal perforation. There were statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-operative mean visual analogue scale scores for epistaxis (p < 0.001), crusting (p < 0.001), whistling (p < 0.001) and nasal obstruction (p < 0.001). Epistaxis, crusting and whistling resolved in all patients, and 92 per cent reported improvement in nasal blockage.

Closure of nasal septal perforation using an open rhinoplasty approach with nasal mucosal advancement flaps and a porcine collagen sandwich is a pertinent and reliable technique for the management of nasal septal perforation.