Effectiveness of hypertonic saline irrigation following functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the impact of hypertonic solutions on various outcomes, including persistence or reduction of nasal crusts, polypoid edema, and postoperative inflammatory symptoms.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies comparing hypertonic with isotonic saline irrigation after FESS in adult patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS). Outcomes were polypoid mucosa, nasal crusts, and variation from the baseline of Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT) 20/22 and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). For statistical analysis, we used RevMan 5.4.1, and assessed heterogeneity with I statistics.

Results: We included a total of 479 patients from 7 studies. In the hypertonic saline group, there was a reduction in the nasal crust Risk Ratio (RR) (RR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.87; p = 0.004; I = 0%) after 30-45 days and severe crusts at 14-21 days (RR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.91; p = 0.02; I = 0%). Additionally, the persistence of polypoid mucosa was lower in the intervention arm (RR = 0.53; 95% CI 0.43 to 0.65; p < 0.00001; I = 0%) after 14-21 days. In the symptomatic evaluation hypertonic saline group showed an improvement in postoperative symptoms by a VAS Mean Difference (MD) (MD = -5; 95% CI -5.77 to -4.24; p < 0.00001; I = 0%) and a SNOT 20/22 Standard Mean Difference (SMD) (SMD = -1.65; 95% CI -2.7 to -0.61; p = 0.002; I = 93%) reduction from baseline in 30-45 days after the surgery.

Conclusion: Hypertonic saline showed a superior improvement in postoperative evaluation by means of nasal crusting, mucosal healing aspect, and nasal inflammatory symptoms compared with isotonic saline irrigation.