Objective
To evaluate the effectiveness of the nasal airflow‐inducing maneuver (NAIM) using the Sniffin' Sticks (Burghart, Wedel, Germany) olfactory threshold test, Open Essence (OE, FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, Osaka, Japan) olfactory identification test, and self‐administered odor questionnaire (SAOQ) for olfactory perception in NAIM experienced and NAIM first‐time groups. For NAIM first‐time group, the relationships between time from laryngectomy to first NAIM, olfactory threshold, and identification ability were also evaluated.
Study Design
Retrospective cohort study.
Methods
Sixty‐six patients who had undergone laryngectomy (NAIM experienced group: 23; NAIM first‐time group: 43) underwent the threshold test, OE, and SAOQ.
Results
Mean results of the threshold test were 2.7 (±2.3) and 2.5 (±3.0) for the NAIM experienced and NAIM first‐time groups, respectively, indicating no significant differences (P = .35). The mean number of correct responses in OE was 4.5 (±2.7) and 3.2 (±3.0) in the NAIM experienced and nonrehabilitation groups, respectively, indicating a higher number in the NAIM experienced group (P = .06). Mean result of SAOQ was 47.9% (±30.9%) and 25.5% (±27.0%) in the NAIM experienced and NAIM first‐time groups, respectively, indicating a significantly higher result in the NAME experienced group (P = .003). There were no correlations of threshold test and identification test scores with time from laryngectomy to the first NAIM (threshold test: r = 0.03, P = .87; OE: r = −0.03, P = .87).
Conclusion
NAIM enabled odor perception in patients who underwent laryngectomy, and SAOQ was an effective method for evaluating this. Further, olfactory tests in both groups showed that NAIM might restore olfaction irrespective of time elapsed since laryngectomy.
Level of Evidence
4. Laryngoscope, 130: 2013–2018, 2020
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This study aims to retrospectively examine temporal changes in three aspects, i.e., olfactory threshold test, olfactory identification test, and olfactory perception on daily living test, caused by the use of the nasal airflow-inducing maneuver (NAIM). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The olfactory threshold test (Sniffin’ Sticks test), olfactory identification test (Open Essence [OE]), and olfactory perception on daily living test (self-administered odor question; SAOQ) were administered to 46 patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy (NAIM Start group: 17; Using group: 19; and Nonuse group: 10). The tests were immediately performed after the NAIM and again after an average of 8 months. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In the NAIM Start group, all olfactory functions significantly improved in the second test compared with the first test (Sniffin’ Sticks test and OE, <i>p</i> < 0.01 for both; self-administered, <i>p</i> < 0.05). Additionally, in terms of the intergroup changes among scores for the Sniffin’ Sticks test and OE, the NAIM Start group showed a significant difference compared with all of the other groups (Start group > Using and Nonuse group, <i>p</i> < 0.01). The NAIM Using group did not exhibit any significant changes. In the NAIM Nonuse group, olfactory identification function was lower in the second test compared with the first test and showed a trend toward a significant difference (OE, <i>p</i> < 0.1). Temporal changes in SAOQ showed a significant increase in all intragroup comparisons. However, there were no significant differences observed in terms of the changes between the groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The results demonstrated that even in those who were not using NAIM and undergoing olfactory rehabilitation after laryngectomy (NAIM Start group), the subsequent daily use of NAIM and voluntary rehabilitation aided in the recovery of olfactory function to the same level as that in the already using NAIM group. SAOQ results were considered because of the experimenter effect and they appeared to be unrelated to use NAIM. This study showed that in total laryngectomy patients who did not receive olfactory rehabilitation, olfactory identification was reduced.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.