The goal of the proposed study is to identify PVP-I at 1.25% as an appropriate intranasal
topical preparation for patients undergoing rhinoplasty with no effect on the nasal mucosa
cilia (NMC) or olfaction using the saccharin transit time (STT) test as a method for
evaluating NMC function. PVP-I has been shown to be viricidal in the upper aerodigestive
tract. This study is highly-relevant, as protection for individuals with a high risk of
exposure to respiratory pathogens has become increasingly important in the setting of recent
viral epidemics such as SARS-CoV-2. Septorhinoplasty is commonly performed throughout the
world and there is a paucity of standardized testing in surgical facilities. Much of our
understanding of the current COVID-19 pandemic is extrapolated from MERS and SARS data. It is
our hope that this study's relevance for the current pandemic remains so in the unfortunate
event of another pandemic in the future.