Effects of Surgical Correction of Nasal Obstruction on Oxygen Uptake and Ventilation Volume

NCT06957262 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: TYL-2016-1350
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This retrospective study aims to evaluate the effect of surgical correction of nasal obstruction on aerobic performance parameters in male athletes aged 20-32 years. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does nasal obstruction surgery impact running economy and ventilation during exercise?
• Does it affect oxygen consumption during submaximal running efforts? Researchers will retrospectively compare male athletes who underwent nasal obstruction surgery (experimental group) to matched athletes without nasal obstruction (control group) to assess changes in respiratory function and exercise performance. Participants were assessed by:
• Acoustic rhinometry to measure nasal cavity dimensions.
• The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to evaluate nasal obstruction symptoms and daytime sleepiness.
• Incremental treadmill exercise tests to collect data on gas exchange, oxygen consumption, ventilation, and running economy before and after the surgical intervention (or across a similar time period for the control group).

Conditions

Nasal Obstruction; Septoplasty Surgeries; Athletic Performance

Keywords

nasal surgery; aerobic performance; exercise economy; respiratory work

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Running Economy (ml/kg/min)

  Running economy was assessed via an incremental treadmill test by measuring steady-state oxygen consumption (VO₂) at submaximal running speeds (e.g., 8, 10, 12 km/h). Improvement in running economy is defined by a decrease in VO₂ at the same speed, indicating greater efficiency.

  Baseline and 2-3 months post-surgery

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Oxygen Consumption (VO₂ max and submax VO₂)

  Baseline and 2-3 months post-surgery

• Change in Ventilation

  Baseline and 2-3 months post-surgery

Study Arms (2)

Athletes Undergoing Septoplasty (EG)

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm included male athletes diagnosed with nasal obstruction who underwent surgical correction via septoplasty. Participants were evaluated before and approximately 2-3 months after surgery. Assessments included acoustic rhinometry to measure nasal cavity cross-sectional areas and volumes, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale. Aerobic performance parameters such as running economy, oxygen consumption, and ventilation volume were measured using an incremental treadmill test and respiratory gas analysis.

Procedure: Surgical correction of nasal obstruction

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Male athletes without nasal obstruction, matched by age and training level with the experimental group. They did not receive any intervention but underwent the same aerobic performance testing protocol at the same time points for comparison.

Interventions

Surgical correction of nasal obstruction PROCEDURE

Surgical intervention to correct anatomical nasal obstruction, specifically septal deviation, performed under general anesthesia. The procedure involved the repositioning and reshaping of the deviated nasal septum to improve nasal airflow. The surgery was conducted by an otolaryngologist with experience in nasal airway procedures. No additional medications or postoperative interventions beyond standard care (e.g., saline irrigation, analgesics) were administered. Postoperative assessments occurred 2-3 months after surgery, including evaluations of nasal patency, sleep quality, and aerobic performance using treadmill-based gas exchange measurements.

Athletes Undergoing Septoplasty (EG)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• For Experimental Group (EG):
• Diagnosed with nasal obstruction due to septal deviation and/or inferior turbinate hypertrophy
• Experiencing nasal breathing difficulties and sleep disturbance
• Deemed eligible for septoplasty and/or inferior turbinoplasty following physical and endoscopic examination
• Voluntarily agreed to participate in the study
• For Control Group (CG):
• No reported nasal obstruction or breathing complications
• Matched with EG participants by age, sport discipline, training level, and VO₂max (with a maximum variation of ±5%)
• Willing to follow a similar training program to their matched EG counterparts between pre- and post-testing periods

You may not qualify if:

• History of nasal surgery
• Presence of cardiopulmonary diseases
• Musculoskeletal disorders affecting physical performance or exercise testing
• Inability or unwillingness to follow the pre- and post-test training schedule
• Any surgical complication that would interfere with post-operative participation in physical testing (note: none occurred in this study)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tuba Melekoğlu: lead
• Akdeniz University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit: collaborator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Nasal Obstruction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Nose Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Airway Obstruction; Respiratory Insufficiency; Respiration Disorders; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Study Officials

• Tuba Melekoğlu, Phd

  Akdeniz University Faculty of Sport Sciences

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: This study was conducted without masking. Participants and investigators were aware of group assignments due to the nature of the intervention (surgical septoplasty). Outcome assessments (aerobic performance tests and symptom questionnaires) were conducted using objective measures and standardized procedures to minimize bias.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Prof.

Model Details: Participants were assigned to one of two parallel groups: an experimental group consisting of athletes with nasal obstruction undergoing septoplasty, and a control group of matched athletes without nasal obstruction who did not receive any intervention. Both groups underwent the same aerobic performance evaluations at baseline and at follow-up (2-3 months).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2025
• First Posted: May 4, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2017
• Primary Completion: January 15, 2020
• Study Completion: January 15, 2020
• Last Updated: May 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04