Pan‐American Clinical Guideline on Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

ObjectiveThis evidence‐based clinical practice guideline (CPG) aims to improve clinical decision making of general practitioners and specialists in the treatment of acute and chronic rhinosinusitis in adults. Support clinicians in clinical decision making for medical treatment with target in the pathophysiological process and evidence‐based efficacy, safety, and tolerability.MethodThe Pan‐American Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, in partnership with the Ibero American Agency for Development and Assessment of Health Technologies, developed a clinical practice guideline on medical management of acute and chronic rhinosinusitis in adults. This document provides punctual evidence‐based recommendations for primary care physicians and otolaryngologists on the medical management of these conditions and complies with evidence‐based medicine fundamentals and with well‐validated guidelines methodology as recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the National Institutes of Health, and The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.ResultsThis document provides from A Grade to D Grade clinical recommendations for treatment of these conditions. The Guideline Development Group made recommendations based on well‐designed, randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Some clinical questions could not be answered by high quality research and for these questions a Panel Delphi was conducted to provide clinical guidance. Overall there is a need for well‐designed RCTs and economic assessments to answer most of the gaps of knowledge for the treatment of acute and chronic rhinosinusitis.ConclusionThis clinical practice guideline provides guidance for the medical treatment of adults with acute and chronic rhinosinusitis.