An audit of endoscopic sinus surgery

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Rhinology
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps significantly impact quality of life.
• Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is a common treatment for these conditions.
• Objective evaluation of ESS outcomes is crucial for refining surgical techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) using symptom scores and endoscopic findings.
• To identify potential prognostic factors influencing ESS outcomes.
• To compare results with international benchmarks.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 113 consecutive cases undergoing ESS.
• Pre- and post-operative symptom, computer tomographic (CT), and endoscopic scoring.
• Follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months, with telephone interviews and free assessments for those lost to follow-up.
• Revision surgeries defined as study failures.

Main Results:

• 81.9% of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyps reported overall symptom improvement.
• Nasal obstruction showed the most significant improvement, followed by rhinorrhoea, smell loss, and facial pain.
• Endoscopic improvement was high for polyps (83.3%) and edema (87.0%), but lower for discharge (59.4%).

Conclusions:

• ESS yields comparable results to international series for chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps.
• Computer tomography scoring and the number of revision operations are potential prognostic indicators for ESS.
• Further evaluation of these prognostic factors is warranted.