Sinus Surgery For Chronic Rhinosinusitis Research Articles

Reversibility of mucociliary clearance and olfaction impairment following endoscopic sinus surgery: a prospective observational study

Chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with altered mucociliary clearance and olfaction. The study aimed to analyse the reversibility of impairment and endoscopic factors predicting changes in mucociliary clearance and olfactory parameters. This prospective study included patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery for medically refractory chronic rhinosinusitis. Pre- and post-operative measurements of mucociliary clearance, olfactory thresholds, and identification scores were recorded. Of the 96 patients, 65.6 per cent had polyposis and 80.2 per cent underwent primary surgery. Improvements in mucociliary clearance and olfaction scores were seen in all patients, with greater reversibility of impairment in patients with polyposis and in those who underwent revision surgery. The presence of polyps correlated significantly with changes in mucociliary clearance and olfaction. The study highlights improvements in mucociliary clearance, olfactory thresholds and identification scores after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyposis, as well as for primary and revision surgeries. Adequate post-operative care and prevention of polyps recurrence help to improve mucociliary clearance and olfaction scores.

The Use of Postoperative Antibiotics Following Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Endoscopic sinus surgery is performed for medically recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis. There is no universally accepted strategy regarding post-operative antibiotics despite the high rates of usage worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyse patient-reported and objective outcomes behind antibiotic use following endoscopic sinus surgery. A search of electronic databases was performed. Eligible randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational trials were included. The primary outcome was patient reported outcome measures. Secondary outcomes were local infections, endoscopy scores and adverse events. Meta-analysis was performed. Of 1045 publications identified, 7 were included in the qualitative synthesis and 5 RCTs were included in meta-analysis. Antibiotic regimens varied between studies in terms of antibiotic selection, timing commenced and duration of use. Meta-analysis suggested no significant difference between placebo and antibiotics in patient reported outcome measures (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.215, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.637 to 0.207) or endoscopic scores (SMD -2.86, 95% CI -0.846 to 0.273). There was no consistent definition in reporting of infection; therefore, this outcome cannot be comprehensively considered. No severe adverse events were attributable to antibiotics. From the studies analysed, there is no level 1 evidence to suggest that antibiotics improved patient outcomes following sinus surgery. However, there was significant heterogeneity in outcome measures and no clear data exists regarding the effects of antibiotics on postoperative infections. The available evidence at present is not enough to make a recommendation in either direction. Further designed larger RCTs are required to investigate these questions in more detail.

Evaluating the Role of Anesthesia on Intraoperative Blood Loss and Visibility during Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Meta-analysis.

Previous studies and meta analyses have led to incongruent and incomplete results respectively when total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and inhalational anesthesia (IA) are compared in endoscopic sinus surgeries in regards to intraoperative bleeding and visibility. To perform a more comprehensive meta-analysis on randomized controlled trial (RCTs) comparing TIVA with IA in endoscopic sinus surgery to evaluate their effects on intraoperative bleeding and visibility. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing TIVA and IA in endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis was completed in May 2020. Utilizing databases, articles were systematically screened for analysis and 19 studies met our inclusion criteria. The primary outcome included intraoperative visibility scores combining Boezaart, Wormald and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included rate of blood loss (mL/kg/min), estimated total blood loss (mL), Boezaart, Wormald scores, VAS, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure (MAP). 19 RCTs with 1,010 patients were analyzed. TIVA had a significantly lower intraoperative bleeding score indicating better endoscopic visibility (Boezaart, VAS, and Wormald) than IA (-0.514, p = 0.020). IA had a significantly higher average rate of blood loss than TIVA by 0.563 mL/kg/min (p = 0.016). Estimated total blood loss was significantly lower in TIVA than IA (-0.853 mL, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences between TIVA and IA in the mean heart rate (-0.225, p = 0.63) and MAP values (-0.126, p = 0.634). The subgroup analyses revealed no significant difference between TIVA and IA when remifentanil was not utilized and whenever desflurane was the IA agent. TIVA seemed to have superior intraoperative visibility scores and blood loss during endoscopic sinus surgery when compared to IA. However, the results are not consistent when stratifying the results based on the use of remifentanil and different inhaled anesthetics. Therefore, the conclusion cannot be made that one approach is superior to the other.

Olfactory Outcome After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Olfaction is a special sense of smell, which is perceived in the olfactory region of the nasal cavity and helps in enjoying the taste...

National Analysis of 30-Day Readmission Following Inpatient Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

To characterize the incidence, causes, risk factors, and costs of 30-day readmission after inpatient functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Retrospective cohort study. The Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to characterize readmission after inpatient sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis from 2015 to 2017. International Classification of Disease codes were used to identify the patient population, which included 5,644 patients. Incidence, causes, costs, and predictors of readmission were analyzed and determined. Among 6,386 patients who underwent inpatient FESS, 742 (11.6%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. On univariate analysis, patients who were readmitted were more commonly older than 70 years (23.3% vs. 16.2%); had a higher burden of comorbidities including chronic kidney disease (15.0% vs. 7.8%), diabetes (25.6% vs. 20.4%), and hypertension (13.5% vs. 8.5%); had a greater rate of postoperative complications (20.7% vs. 12.2%); and had a longer length of stay (12.4 vs. 6.9 days) compared to patients who were not readmitted. Readmissions cost an additional $27,141 per patient. On multivariable analysis, age greater than 70 years, Medicaid insurance, several comorbidities, prolonged length of stay, postoperative neurologic complications, and lower hospital volume were independent predictors of 30-day readmission. The most common cause for readmission was infection (36.3%). Readmission following inpatient FESS is not uncommon. Identification and management of preoperative comorbidities, optimized patient selection for inpatient surgery, and thorough postoperative discharge care may improve patient outcomes and decrease healthcare expenditures. 3 Laryngoscope, 131:E1422-E1428, 2021.

The role of limited septoplasty during functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has been the most common surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and to accomplish surgical goals such as facilitate adequate visualization and allow room for endoscopic instrumentation, the correction of the minimally deviated septum has been advocated. Objective: To ascertain the role of limited septoplasty during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in reducing the recurrence of the rhinosinusitis. Patients and methods:A prospective descriptive study conducted at the department of Otorhinolaryngology–Head & Neck surgery (Sulaymaniyah Teaching Hospital - College of Medicine - University of Sulaymaniyah). Patients were presented with refractory CRS, with concomitant septal deviation, and prepared for FESS were randomly divided into two groups; group A (10 patients) underwent FESS without septoplasty and group B (10 patients) underwent FESS with limited septoplasty. To determine the effectiveness of the septoplasty in concomitant with FESS, a comparison of the outcomes of FESS in both groups been done throughout utilizing the Sino-Nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) and Lund –Kennedy (LK) endoscopic score preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Among the twenty patients included in this study, (40%) of patients in the group A and (30%) of patients in the group B had polyp extending to nasal cavity with (two score), which diminished to 0% at 6 months postoperatively. Need to blow nose, Sneezing, Runny nose, cough, postnasal discharge, ear fullness, dizziness, ear pain, facial pain/pressure, fatigue, sad, embarrassed symptoms had improved in patients undergone FESS with limited septoplasty. Conclusions: Limited septoplasty is primarily used when the septal deviation is located opposite the work area for endoscopic sinus surgery--namely, opposite the middle turbinate and/or the osteomeatal unit.

Doyle silicone splint insertion: endoscopy-assisted versus nasal speculum assisted

IntroductionSeptoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery are very often concurrently performed operations in otolaryngology practice. The most common complication of endoscopic sinus surgery is lateralization of the middle turbinate. In our practice intranasal stenting is done routinely with Doyle silicone splints. ObjectiveRetrospectively, we aimed to review the postoperative period and to document efficacy of endoscopy-assisted Doyle silicone splint application on prevention of middle turbinate lateralization. MethodsPatients who had failed medical therapy and who underwent elective primary endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with septal deviation requiring septoplasty were included to the study. Doyle silicone splints were inserted to all patients at the end of the operation with nasal speculum or with endoscopic assistance. Groups were compared for position of the middle turbinate at the end of the postoperative first month regarding lateralization and for pain score recorded on the second postoperative day. ResultsIn the Doyle silicone splints applied with nasal speculum group, there were 46 patients with a total of 80 operated sides. In the endoscopy assisted group, there were 54 patients with a total of 88 operated sides. At the 1 month follow-up, the mean of middle turbinate position scores was 1.62 in the speculum-assisted group and 1.80 in the endoscopy-assisted group, the difference between two groups was found to be statistically significant. Mean of postoperative second day pain scores were worse in patients with the Doyle silicone splints applied with endoscopic assistance. This difference was found statistically significant. ConclusionIn our study, after concomitant endoscopic sinus surgery and septoplasty, less middle turbinate lateralization was observed when the Doyle silicone splints were inserted with endoscopic guidance. The surgical techniques or methods of sinus packing as well as nasal packing may have an impact on middle turbinate lateralization after concurrent septoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Elevated mucus interleukin-17A levels are associated with increased prior sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Recent advances in molecular biology have enabled the identification of potential inflammatory endotypes of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), with prior work suggesting differential short-term surgical outcome trajectories based on cytokine signatures. However, there is a paucity of data assessing long-term treatment failure and need for revision surgery based on inflammatory biomarkers. Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected cross-sectional data from 231 patients electing surgical therapy for CRS. Intraoperative mucus specimens were quantitatively sampled for inflammatory cytokines using a multiplex flow cytometric bead assay. Univariate Spearman correlations between cytokine levels and prior number of surgeries were assessed. A stepwise adjusted multivariate Poisson regression analysis was used to model patient-reported prior sinus surgery counts as a function of cytokine levels. Several cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], interferon γ [IFN-γ], and eotaxin) demonstrated significant positive correlations with number of prior surgeries. However, only higher IL-17A levels were independently associated with a higher number of prior sinus surgeries (β = 0.345, p = 0.0003) after adjusting for the significant covariates of age (β = 0.018, p = 0.0036), Lund-Mackay score (β = -0.046, p = 0.02), history of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (β = 1.01, p < 0.0001) and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (β = 1.08, p < 0.0001). Higher levels of regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) were conversely associated with a lower number of prior surgeries (β = -0.17, p = 0.048). An IL-17A-predominant cytokine profile is linked to an increased number of prior sinus surgeries. Thus, type 3 inflammatory markers may indicate a particularly difficult-to-treat, recalcitrant CRS endotype.

Two different therapies for the middle turbinate during endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

The population of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has greatly increased. When medical treatment fails, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is considered. In the present study, the value of two different therapies for the middle turbinate to optimize surgical outcomes was observed. Our objective was to determine a better management approach for the middle turbinate to effectively preserve the middle turbinate mucosa and function and avoid complications following ESS, such as nasal adhesions on the operative side. Thirty patients [group A; treated prior to 2015 (primary surgery)] undergoing resection of the middle turbinate bone during complete ESS for CRS and 30 patients [group B; treated after 2015 (later surgery)] undergoing middle turbinate preservation and multiapproach therapy during complete ESS for CRS were observed. Nasal cavities were compared using perioperative sinus endoscopy (POSE) and Lund-Kennedy (LKES) scores preoperatively and at 15days, 2months and 1year after ESS. Preoperatively, the POSE (8.83 ± 3.81 vs 9.15 ± 3.85, p = 0.45, for groups A and B, respectively) and LKES (4.23 ± 0.74 vs 4.13 ± 0.70, p = 0.34) scores were similar between groups. In group A, anterior adhesions were reported on six sides of the middle turbinate, severe adhesions were observed on two sides, mild adhesions were observed on one side, and adhesions occurred on two sides during follow-up. After retreatment, adhesions were still observed on two sides at 1year. In group B, only mild anterior adhesions were observed on two sides. There was no difference between group A and group B at 15days, and the POSE (4.31 ± 1.19 vs 4.07 ± 1.42, p = 0.11, for groups A and B, respectively) and LKES (3.35 ± 0.82 vs 3.33 ± 0.90, p = 0.91) scores were similar between groups. There was no significant difference in LKES (0.22 ± 0.49 vs 0.10 ± 0.35, p = 0.15) scores at 1year between the two groups. There was a significant difference in the nasal cavities between group A and group B at 2months and 1year, where group B showed a better endoscopic appearance than group A at 2months and 1year (with POSE scores of 3.48 ± 0.83 vs 2.43 ± 1.38 (p = 0.00) and LKES scores of 1.35 ± 0.86 vs 1.15 ± 0.90 (p = 0.02) at 2months for groups A and B, respectively, and POSE scores of 1.00 ± 0.96 vs 0.62 ± 0.87 (p = 0.001) at 1year for groups A and B, respectively). Our results show that middle turbinate preservation and combined therapy was a better ESS method for CRS. Multiapproach middle conchoplasty, which is predominately a submucoperiosteal surgery, can preserve more of the mucosa and functions of the middle turbinate. Unlike the single-approach middle conchoplasty described in previous research, multiapproach middle conchoplasty is achieved by combining a three-step surgical procedure ("surgery, packing and removal") with "cocktail-style" postoperative packing and removal.

Outcome of Endoscopic Frontal Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis with and without Polyps

Outcome of Endoscopic Frontal Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis with and without Polyps

Predictors of Surgical Outcomes After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis has an incidence of 15% in India. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), in case of failed medical management, is the current treatment protocol in Chronic rhinosinusitis. This study aims to assess the outcome of FESS as measured by subjective quality of life indices; Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (RSDI) and Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22. It also assesses the predictive factors which influence the outcome after FESS. The study was conducted among 100 patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis who underwent FESS, after failure of medical management. Immunocompromised or pregnant patients and patients with history of previous sinus surgery or malignancy were excluded from the study. The evaluation was done using Lund Kennedy endoscopy scores, Lund Mackay CT scan scores and RSDI and SNOT-22 questionnaires (baseline and 3months post-op). Statistical analysis was done using Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskall Wallis test, Mann Whitney test and Chi-square test. p < 0.05 was considered significant. RSDI and SNOTT 22 scores showed a mean change 34.78 and 33.04 respectively after FESS, with a p value of < 0.001, which was highly significant. The pre-operative factors which predicted a poor quality of life after FESS were smoking, Allergy and Asthma. Higher pre-operative Endoscopic and CT scores resulted in an improved quality of life after FESS. Gender, concurrent septoplasty and sinonasal polyposis did not influence the quality of life outcomes after FESS. The study determines the quality of life after FESS and also analyses the factors responsible for poor prognosis after functional endoscopic sinus surgery. This study will enable the ENT surgeons to adequately counsel the patients before surgery.

Endoscopic Treatment of Huge Sinus Mucoceles Causing Orbital Symptoms.

Paranasal sinus mucoceles are accumulation of mucoid secretions and desquamated epithelium within the sinus causing distension of its wall. They occur mostly in the frontal and ethmoid sinuses. Patients with giant frontal or ethmoidal sinus mucoceles suffer from orbital symptoms such as proptosis, visual disturbance, periorbital swelling, pain, or visual disturbance mostly, but they can also have rhinologic or neurologic symptoms. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic marsupialization for treating giant frontal and ethmoidal sinus mucoceles causing orbital symptoms. This study was a retrospective, consecutive clinical review of patients with giant frontal and ethmoidal sinus mucoceles with orbital symptoms, who were treated by endoscopic marsupialization between January 2012 and August 2019. Medical records including age, gender, nasal and orbital symptoms, imaging findings, and surgical methods were reviewed. There were 15 patients with giant frontal and/or ethmoidal sinus mucoceles accompanied with orbital symptoms. The mean age of the patients was 50.5 years. One patient had previously undergone endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. Within 15 patients, the main orbital symptoms were visual disturbance (6 patients), proptosis (8 patients), eyelid swelling (6 patients), and periorbital pain (1 patient). Other symptoms included nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and headache. All patients underwent endoscopic marsupialization of the mucocele and had improvement in nasal and orbital signs and symptoms. Endoscopic marsupialization is an effective treatment for giant frontal and ethmoidal mucoceles with orbital symptoms.

Prolonged Implantation of Sinus Devices and Implications for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Implantation of sinus stents and spacers can be used as adjuvant management to maintain patency of sinuses after endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. These implants are typically removed several weeks after surgery. We present two cases of different patients who were initially treated by different physicians and were found to have retained sinus spacers in their paranasal sinuses 6-10 years after implantation. Case 1: a 40-year old male with chronic rhinosinusitis and history of balloon sinuplasty six years prior presented with worsening symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to medical management. He underwent revision functional endoscopic sinus surgery and was found to have retained sinus implants in the left and right frontal sinus recesses. Case 2: a 48-year-old female with long-standing chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to medical management presented after two prior sinus surgeries most recently 10 years ago. She underwent revision functional endoscopic surgery and was found to have a retained sinus implant from prior surgery in the right frontal recess outflow tract embedded within scar tissue and reactive hyperostosis. Foreign bodies from both patients were removed without complication and patients were healing appropriately in the post-operative period. While sinus stents and spacers can help with post-operative scarring, leaving then unmonitored and in place will eventually result in them becoming a nidus for scarring and infection. It is critical that patients are aware of any foreign bodies we place, if they need scheduled removal or routine observation, and what symptoms may indicate that they are causing a problem.

Dynamic Change of T-Helper Cell Cytokines in Nasal Secretions and Serum after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Background/Aims: This study aimed to determine the dynamic change of postoperative T-helper cell cytokines in nasal secretions and serum in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods: Nasal secretions and serum samples of 30 CRSwNP patients and 10 healthy subjects were collected. Among CRSwNP patients, samples of 30 patients were collected 1 day before endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and that of 18 patients (12 asthmatic and 6 non-asthmatic) were collected 4, 8, and 12 weeks after ESS. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-17, and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were determined by Cytometric Beads Array. The Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test 22 and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scoring (LKES) system were collected for all patients. Results: The levels of IL-2 and IL-5 in secretions of CRSwNP were significantly higher than that of healthy control at the baseline. At the 4th and 8th week after ESS, the IL-4 levels in nasal secretions of the asthmatic group were significantly higher than their baseline controls (preoperatively). From the 4th to 12th week after ESS, the IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17 levels in nasal secretions of the non-asthmatic group were significantly increased as compared to their baseline controls. Postoperative IL-5 levels in serum of the asthmatic group decreased significantly as compared to their baseline controls. There was no significant association between LKES and levels of cytokines in postoperative secretions and serum. Conclusions: Our results indicate that postoperative endoscopic findings may not directly reflect the underlying mucosal inflammation, and surgery could not change the systemic immunity status. Despite endoscopic resolution of mucosal abnormalities, it may not avert the need for subsequent postoperative medical intervention to treat the underlying mucosal inflammation.

Risk factors for complications of endoscopic sinus surgery for Chronic rhinosinusitis

Risk factors for complications of endoscopic sinus surgery for Chronic rhinosinusitis

A comparative study and correlation between preoperative computed tomogram and endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis

&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with its classical symptoms of nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and headache is relatively a common disease in otorhinolaryngology practice. The objectives of the present study was to correlate the operative findings in such patients with the CT findings, using the Perioperative sinus endoscopy (POSE) scoring system and to correlate the maximum scores obtained in the POSE scoring system and Lund-Mackay scoring system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; A prospective study was conducted from January 2014 to March 2015 in 50 patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery in the age group of 36-60 years of age. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="abstract"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; Agger nasi cells were the most common wandering ethmoid cell detected (90%) followed by various types of frontal cells (54%), Haller cells (26%) and least commonly Onodi cells (12%). Almost perfect agreement was obtained for rest of the criteria which included middle turbinate status, ethmoid cavity mucosal edema and ethmoid cavity polypoid change. Lund-Mackay scoring system was used to score findings in the CT scan and POSE scoring system used to score peroperative findings in the study and this study reveals excellent correlation (Pearson correlation value of 0.879).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/strong&gt; Novel POSE scoring is a new entity which has the potential to be a valid system to score preoperative and perioperative findings. In the current study POSE scoring shows excellent correlation with Lund Mackay scoring which is an established scoring system used in the evaluation CT scan.&lt;/p&gt;

Endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps under the guidance of precision medicine：present state and prospective

Endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps under the guidance of precision medicine：present state and prospective

Impact of age on outcomes following endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common condition that affects people of all ages and negatively impacts quality of life. The goal of this study was to identify differences in outcomes by age following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for CRS utilizing 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores. Data from 1252 adult CRS patients electing to undergo ESS (2007-2018) were collected retrospectively. The median age of 50 years was used to divide the data into 2 groups for comparison of the impact of age on SNOT-22 scores at 0, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Changes in SNOT-22 scores were analyzed using a mixed models analysis. After adjusting for gender, race, polyp status, and number of prior ESSs, patients younger than 50 years had a higher mean pre-ESS SNOT-22 score (44.0) compared to those of at least 50 years of age (38.9). Among patients younger than 50 years, SNOT-22 scores declined by 20.7 points at 3 months post-ESS and 16.1 points at 6 months post-ESS. The rate of change between the dichotomized age groups was not significantly different at 3 and 6 months post-ESS (p = 0.7952 and p = 0.1057, respectively). Both age groups showed significant and durable improvement in SNOT-22 scores after ESS. Patients younger than 50 years of age have higher pre-ESS SNOT-22 scores, but converge to the same SNOT-22 scores by 3 months post-ESS. The rate of change of SNOT-22 scores is not different between those younger than 50 years and those of at least 50 years.

Anatomical variation of the pneumatized superior turbinate and its impact on endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis.

The posterior ethmoid sinus is adjacent to important structures, such as the orbit, optic nerve, skull base, and ostium of the sphenoid sinus. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of pneumatization of the superior turbinate (ST) and its basal lamella, and of the position of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus, on opening of the posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. On axial, coronal, and sagittal computed tomography images, 394 sinuses of 197 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgeryatToho University Omori Medical Center in Tokyo, Japan, were classified according to the presence or absence of pneumatization of the ST and its basal lamella. The basal lamella of the ST was classified separately into the vertical and horizontal portions. We examined whether the classification of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus was associated with the structure of the ST. Pneumatization was observed in the ST in 28 sinuses (7.1%), in the vertical portion of the basal lamella in 127 (32.2%), and in the horizontal portion of the basal lamella in 90 (22.8%). Pneumatization in the horizontal portion of the basal lamella was significantly more common in the anterior sphenoidal wall classified as optic-canal type. Consideration should be given to the pneumatization of the ST and its basal lamella and optic-canal-type anterior sphenoidal wall, because these reduce the volume of the posterior-most ethmoid cell and may increase the risk of damaging the skull base and optic nerve.

General health, vitality, and social function after sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis.

ObjectivesChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has an impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). The objective of this study was to examine generic and disease‐specific HRQOL and symptoms in CRS patients with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps before and 6 months after sinus surgery, and to identify preoperative patient factors associated with HRQOL outcome in the two groups separately.MethodsThis prospective, observational study consisted of 220 CRSwNP and 196 CRSsNP patients. Generic and disease‐specific HRQOL were measured using the Short‐Form‐Health‐Survey (SF‐36) and Sino‐Nasal‐Outcome‐Test (SNOT‐20). Symptoms were assessed on a visual analog scale.ResultsPreoperatively, CRSwNP patients reported worse score in general health (SF‐36), rhinologic subset (SNOT‐20): nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and altered sense of smell compared to CRSsNP patients, who reported worse score in physical role, bodily pain, ear/face subset, and facial pain. After surgery, generic and disease‐specific HRQOL and symptoms improved in both groups. CRSwNP patients had greater improvement in general health, vitality and social function, nasal obstruction, and altered sense of smell, compared to CRSsNP‐patients. In both groups, higher age, daily smoking, and having had sinus surgery previously were associated with less generic HRQOL improvement, in addition to female sex and allergy in CRSsNP patients.ConclusionThe greater improvement in general health, vitality, and social function after surgery may indicate a greater potential for generic HRQOL improvement in CRSwNP patients compared to CRSsNP patients. Female sex and allergy was associated with less improvement of generic HRQOL in the CRSsNP group, but not in the CRSwNP group.Level of evidence2c outcome research.