Prevention of relapses of nasal polyposis with intranasal triamcinolone acetonide after polyp surgery: a prospective double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study with a 9-month follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intranasal triamcinolone acetonide prevents the regrowth of nasal polyps after polyp surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective study.

SETTING: Helsinki University Central Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: Sixty patients with nasal polyps entered the study. Patients were included upon arrival for elective polyp operations determined according to our standard clinical criteria. The recurrence of nasal polyposis was followed up for 9 months after surgical treatment at 3-month intervals.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, olfactory threshold measurement, active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry were performed at every follow-up visit.

RESULTS: On the whole, there was a significant inter-group difference in the change in polyp size of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-tolerant patients during the follow-up. In patients with acetylsalicylic acid intolerance, there was no inter-group difference (P = 0.28). No significant differences were noted for nasal resistance, nasal cavity volume, sense of smell and nasal symptoms.

CONCLUSION: Triamcinolone acetonide prevents regrowth of nasal polyps after polyp surgery in acetylsalicylic acid-tolerant patients, but not in acetylsalicylic acid-intolerant patients.