Limitations of this review
As with all systematic reviews, the search strategy employed was broad
and it is expected that some studies may have been missed. The search
strategy was also limited to those published in English. Readers should
exercise caution that the studies reviewed here represent a single point
of time and the findings of future work could alter the conclusions
drawn here.
Finally, it could be posited that studies considering either the
assessment of aerosolisation or mitigation of risk in literature from
other specialties (e.g. Anaesthetics) or from other research sectors
(e.g. Engineering) could be transferable to rhinological practice.
Whilst it could be logically reasoned that findings from such work may
be extrapolated to rhinology surgery, this would have involved a series
of assumptions and would significantly limit the strength of any
conclusions which could be drawn when results are applied in a different
and untested context.