Cautery versus scalpel: effects on sense of smell after skull base surgery
Official title: Olfactory Outcomes of Cautery Vs Scalpel in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Surgery- A Prospective Randomised Controlled Study.
Run by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur · NCT07385911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether using cautery or a scalpel during endoscopic skull-base surgery changes patients' sense of smell.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 18, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 30, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07385911 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults scheduled for endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery that requires raising a nasoseptal flap and who do not have preoperative anosmia, prior sinonasal/pituitary/skull base surgery, neurodegenerative disease, or chronic rhinosinusitis are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with preoperative anosmia, previous sinonasal or skull base surgery, neurodegenerative disease, or chronic rhinosinusitis are excluded and would not be expected to benefit from this comparison.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study compares olfactory outcomes after nasoseptal flap elevation performed with cautery versus a scalpel in patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery. Participants will have formal smell testing before surgery and again after surgery to measure any change in olfactory function. Patients with preexisting anosmia, prior sinonasal or skull base operations, neurodegenerative disease, or chronic rhinosinusitis are excluded to isolate the effect of the surgical technique. The goal is to determine whether one technique better preserves the olfactory neuroepithelium and patients' smell function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could guide surgeons to use the technique that better preserves smell, reducing postoperative loss of olfaction.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research indicates that surgical technique can affect smell after endonasal approaches, but direct comparisons of cautery versus scalpel for olfaction are limited, making this a relatively novel direct comparison.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: -Patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal skull base surgeries that require the raising of a nasoseptal flap Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with preoperative anosmia due to any cause. * Patients with a previous history of sino-nasal, pituitary, or skull base surgery. * Patients with a medical history of neurodegenerative diseases (for example, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease), chronic rhinosinusitis
Where it's running
-
All India Institute Of Medical Sciences
Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ananya Srivastava, MBBS
- Email: ananyasrivastava1008@gmail.com
- Phone: +919672423734
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.