Predictors of Subjective Olfactory Dysfunction and Sinonasal Quality-of-Life After Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery.

Background: This is the largest study in North America investigating olfactory outcomes after pituitary surgery to date. Objective: Characterize factors associated with subjective olfactory dysfunction (OD) and worsened sinonasal quality-of-life (QOL) after endoscopic TSA. Methods: Patients undergoing primary TSA for secreting and non-secreting pituitary adenomas between 2017 and 2021 with pre- and post-operative SNOT-22 scores were included. Subjective OD was determined by the smell/taste dysfunction question on the SNOT-22 (smell-SNOT). Results: 159 patients with pre- and post-operative SNOT-22 scores were included. Average total SNOT-22 scores worsened from pre-operative (16.91 ± 16.91) to POM1 (25.15 ± 20.83, P <.001), with no difference from pre-operative (16.40 ± 15.88) to POM6 (16.27 ± 17.92, P =.936) or pre-operative (13.63 ± 13.54) to POM12 (12.60 ± 16.45, P =.651). Average smell-SNOT scores worsened from pre-operative (0.40 ± 1.27) to POM1 (2.09 ± 2.01, P <.001), and pre-operative (0.46 ± 1.29) to POM6 (1.13 ± 2.45, P =.002), with no difference from pre-operative (0.40 ± 1.07) to POM12 (0.71 ± 1.32, P =.100). Female gender had a 0.9-point (95% CI 0.1 to 1.6) P =.021, increase in smell-SNOT at POM1, resolving by POM6 (0.1 [−0.9 to 1.1], P =.800) and POM12 (0.0 [−1.0 to 0.9], P =.942). Septoplasty with tunnel approach had a 1.1 [0.2 to 2.0] out of 5-point (P =.023) increase in smell-SNOT at POM1, resolving by POM6 (0.2 [−1.1 to 1.6], P =.764) and POM12 (0.4 [−0.9 to 1.6], P =.567). Female gender had a 9.5 (4.0 to 15.1)-point (P =.001) increase in SNOT-22 scores at POM1, resolving by POM6 (3.4 [−3.0 to 9.8], P =.292) and POM12 (6.4 [−5.4 to 18.2], P =.276). Intra-operative CSF leak had an 8.6 [2.1 to 15.1]-point (P =.009) increase in SNOT-22 scores at POM1, resolving by POM6 (5.4 [−1.7 to 12.5], P =.135), and POM12 (1.1 [−12.9 to 15.1], P =.873). Conclusion: Changes in subjective olfaction and sinonasal QOL after TSA may be associated with gender, operative approach, and intra-operative CSF leak, resolving 6-12 months post-operatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]