The Nasal AIRway Obstruction Study is a clinical trial comparing septoplasty to medical management in treating a nasal airway obstruction.

The nasal airway obstruction could be due to inflammation and mucus, which can make breathing difficult through the nose. A twisted septum can cause problems with breathing through the nose, but it is not always the cause of nasal airway obstruction. Sometimes people with a very twisted septum still seem to be able to breathe fine through their nose.

At the moment doctors don’t know whether the best thing to do is straighten the twisted septum with an operation or to use medicines to help unblock the nasal airways. We hope that conducting this trial and collecting evidence will help patients in the future. 

Septoplasty is surgery to straighten the part of the nose that divides the two nostrils (the septum). Ideally, the septum runs down the centre of the nose. If it is not straight, perhaps because of injury, it may narrow one side of the nose and obstruct airflow. 

Septoplasty is done in the hope of improving symptoms such as a blocked nose, snoring and sleep disturbance. Like any operation, there is a risk of complications.

Medical management involves the use of two nasal sprays. The combination of both a salt water spray and a steroid spray may improve nasal airflow by reducing the swelling in the nose, which may be making the nose feel blocked.

NAIROS aims to provide evidence on how effective septoplasty surgery is in comparison to medical management to determine the best strategy for patients with a nasal airway obstruction.