Table 1.
Randomized controlled trials evaluating intranasal saline in CRS
| Author | Year | Outcome measures | Treatment groups | Delivery method | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoseyov et al51 | 1998 | Symptom and radiological scores in children | 3.5% HTS versus ITS | 1 mL nasal drops | Improved cough score in HTS group; other scores similar |
| Bachmann et al52 | 2000 | Symptom, endoscopic, mucociliary clearance, rhinometry and olfactometry scores | HTS versus ITS | 200 mL irrigator | Improved symptom scores in both groups; no difference between groups |
| Heatley et al53 | 2001 | SNOT-20 and RSOM31 scores | 2.7% HTS via bulb syringe versus irrigation pot versus reflexology placebo | Bulb syringe versus irrigator | Improved scores in all groups, with no difference between groups and placebo |
| Rabago et al54 | 2002 | QoL, RSDI, and SIA scores | 2% HTS versus control | 300 mL nasal cup | Improved RSDI and SIA in saline group versus controls |
| Cordray et al55 | 2005 | QoL scores | HTS versus triamcinolone versus ITS | Nasal spray | Improvements in steroid and HTS groups |
| Pinto et al56 | 2006 | Symptoms post-ESS | ITS versus HTS versus control | Nasal spray | No symptom improvement in ITS or HTS group over control. More pain in HTS group |
| Hauptmanand Ryan57 | 2007 | Acoustic rhinometry, saccharine clearance times, symptoms | ITS versus HTS | Nasal spray | ITS and HTS improved saccharine clearance times and symptoms of nasal stuffiness. ITS improved nasal patency |
| Pynnonen et al48 | 2007 | SNOT-20 score, symptom frequency, and medication usage | ITS via large volume irrigation versus spray | Large volume irrigation versus spray | Improved SNOT-20 score and symptom frequency in irrigation over spray group |
| Liang et al49 | 2008 | Symptom and endoscopy scores post-ESS | Buffered ITS + medical treatment versus medical treatment | 500 mL pulsatile irrigator | Improved endoscopy and symptom scores in irrigation group with mild CRS only |
| Freeman et al50 | 2008 | Endoscopy scores post-ESS | ITS + medical treatment versus medical treatment | 2 mL atomized | Improved endoscopic appearance at 3 weeks; no difference at 3 months |
Abbreviations: CRS, chronic rhinosinusitis; HTS, hypertonic saline; ITS, isotonic saline; SNOT-20, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test; RSOM31, rhinosinusitis outcomes measure; QoL, quality of life; RSDI, rhinosinusitis disability index; SIA, symptoms severity assessment; ESS, endoscopic sinus surgery.