Rhinologic surgery is rapidly evolving as our understanding of nasal airflow dynamics becomes increasingly sophisticated, directly impacting surgical planning and patient outcomes. Surgical correction of nasal obstruction—whether due to septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve collapse, or dynamic changes—relies on a precise appreciation of both static and dynamic factors influencing nasal patency. Persistent questions remain regarding the relative contributions of anatomical versus functional causes of obstruction, and how intraoperative decisions can best be informed by preoperative airflow analysis. The lack of standardization in evaluating surgical candidates and measuring postoperative success continues to be a central challenge in the field.
Recent technological advancements, such as high-resolution imaging, computational fluid dynamics, and intraoperative airflow assessment, are transforming preoperative diagnostics and intraoperative navigation. These innovations enable surgeons to better identify patients whose nasal obstruction is predominantly structural versus dynamic or mucosal in origin. Outcomes research increasingly highlights that airflow partitioning, mucosal behavior during the nasal cycle, and subtle causes of nasal resistance can affect both the short and long-term results of surgical intervention. However, more studies are needed to establish evidence-based protocols that use airflow analysis to reliably guide surgical technique selection and predict patient satisfaction.
This Research Topic aims to drive the integration of nasal airflow assessment and surgical innovation to maximize the effectiveness of intranasal procedures. The objective is to define best practices for incorporating quantitative and qualitative airflow metrics into both the evaluation process and surgical decision-making. Key questions include how advanced airflow studies can refine surgical indications, which intraoperative adjustments yield the most sustained improvements, and how to target interventions for challenging conditions such as nasal valve collapse or dynamic nasal obstruction.
To gather further insights in the application of airflow analysis to nasal surgery, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following surgically focused themes:
• Preoperative evaluation protocols using nasal airflow metrics
• Intraoperative guidance with computational or direct airflow measurements
• Selection of surgical techniques for septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, and valve collapse
• Postoperative assessment of nasal patency and surgical success
• Management of dynamic and functional nasal obstruction
• Role of mucosal changes and nasal cycle in surgical planning
• Innovations in device-based or minimally invasive surgical approaches
If appropriate for this Research Topic, we invite submissions including original research, reviews, mini-reviews, case studies, and technical notes.
Topic Editor Johan Hellgren is chairman and member of the board of the Swedish Association for Allergology, and on the advisory board of GSK. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Rhinologic surgery is rapidly evolving as our understanding of nasal airflow dynamics becomes increasingly sophisticated, directly impacting surgical planning and patient outcomes. Surgical correction of nasal obstruction—whether due to septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal valve collapse, or dynamic changes—relies on a precise appreciation of both static and dynamic factors influencing nasal patency. Persistent questions remain regarding the relative contributions of anatomical versus functional causes of obstruction, and how intraoperative decisions can best be informed by preoperative airflow analysis. The lack of standardization in evaluating surgical candidates and measuring postoperative success continues to be a central challenge in the field.
Recent technological advancements, such as high-resolution imaging, computational fluid dynamics, and intraoperative airflow assessment, are transforming preoperative diagnostics and intraoperative navigation. These innovations enable surgeons to better identify patients whose nasal obstruction is predominantly structural versus dynamic or mucosal in origin. Outcomes research increasingly highlights that airflow partitioning, mucosal behavior during the nasal cycle, and subtle causes of nasal resistance can affect both the short and long-term results of surgical intervention. However, more studies are needed to establish evidence-based protocols that use airflow analysis to reliably guide surgical technique selection and predict patient satisfaction.
This Research Topic aims to drive the integration of nasal airflow assessment and surgical innovation to maximize the effectiveness of intranasal procedures. The objective is to define best practices for incorporating quantitative and qualitative airflow metrics into both the evaluation process and surgical decision-making. Key questions include how advanced airflow studies can refine surgical indications, which intraoperative adjustments yield the most sustained improvements, and how to target interventions for challenging conditions such as nasal valve collapse or dynamic nasal obstruction.
To gather further insights in the application of airflow analysis to nasal surgery, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following surgically focused themes:
• Preoperative evaluation protocols using nasal airflow metrics
• Intraoperative guidance with computational or direct airflow measurements
• Selection of surgical techniques for septal deviation, turbinate hypertrophy, and valve collapse
• Postoperative assessment of nasal patency and surgical success
• Management of dynamic and functional nasal obstruction
• Role of mucosal changes and nasal cycle in surgical planning
• Innovations in device-based or minimally invasive surgical approaches
If appropriate for this Research Topic, we invite submissions including original research, reviews, mini-reviews, case studies, and technical notes.
Topic Editor Johan Hellgren is chairman and member of the board of the Swedish Association for Allergology, and on the advisory board of GSK. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.