FESS versus Balloon Sinuplasty as Long‐term Treatment for Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A 2‐Year Postoperative Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common pediatric disease. For those affected, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and balloon sinuplasty are surgical options for long-term relief. Our objective was to examine the efficacy of these treatments in overall symptom improvement >2-years post-operatively. Methods: A 2-group prospective blinded survey was conducted with 10 pediatric patients who underwent FESS and 11 treated with balloon sinuplasty from 2007-2010. All had previously been reviewed in a 6-month post-operative comparative study and were diagnosed with CRS through CT scans and symptomatology. At >2-years post-surgery, symptoms and medications were compared using 1-tailed independent t-tests. Results: Mean age at time of procedure was 9.9 years (range 4.1 – 16.0); 65% were male. Both groups had similar Lund-Mackay scores (FESS: Mean = 12.63; Balloon: Mean = 12.27) and overall symptoms prior to procedure (FESS: Mean = 4.78, SD = 2.73; Balloon: Mean = 4.60, SD = 1.26). Greater than 2-year post-operative follow-up surveys demonstrated a statistically significant long-term decrease in symptoms for balloon and FESS treatments (t = 4.34, P = <0.001). Balloon demonstrated a significant decrease in individual sinus symptoms (t=4.80, P = 0.001) when compared to FESS. Overall, a reduction in antibiotics and topical nasal spray was identified in both groups. Conclusions: FESS and balloon are both effective long-term options in the treatment of pediatric CRS. Both procedures can be performed with minimal short- and long-term complications. At >2-years post-sinus surgery, individuals who underwent balloon sinuplasty reported a greater decrease in overall sinus complaints when compared to FESS.