THE EFFECT OF NORMAL SALINE AND 3.5% HYPERTONIC SALINE ON MUCOCILIARY CLEARANCE IN SINUSITIS

Introduction: Sinusitis is usually treated with antibiotics, decongestants, mucolytics and steroids. Long term use of these drugs has many side effects. This has led to the use of other modalities of treatment such as saline nasal irrigation. Saline nasal irrigation helps in clearance of secretions, debris and crusts, thus improving the mucociliary clearance. OBJECTIVE: This randomized comparative study was undertaken to assess the ciliary function by performing saccharine test and to evaluate the effect of 3.5% hypertonic saline nasal drops against normal saline nasal drops on mucociliary transit time of saccharine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients diagnosed as chronic sinusitis in the age group of 18 to 45 years were randomized into two groups; Group A treated with 0.9% normal saline and Group B with 3.5% hypertonic saline for a period of 4 weeks. Mucociliary transit time was recorded by performing saccharine test before and after treatment. RESULTS: Significant improvement was seen in both the groups but when compared to normal saline, hypertonic saline significantly improved the mucociliary clearance. The mean mucociliary transit time of saccharine in Group A patients before treatment was 19.860 minutes and after treatment was 17.634 minutes (t=14.012, p=0.0001). The mean mucociliary transit time of saccharine in Group B patients before treatment was 21.881 minutes and after treatment was 16.689 minutes (t=14.662, p=0.0001). All the patients reported relief of symptoms, but relief was much earlier in Group B when compared to Group A. Mild burning sensation in the nose and throat was reported by 4% of patients in Group A and 8% in Group B. CONCLUSION: Both 0.9% normal saline and 3.5% hypertonic saline significantly improved the mucociliary clearance. Hypertonic saline is more efficacious than normal saline in the treatment of chronic sinusitis.