Innovative frontal sinus stent acting as a local drug-releasing system

Contemporary endonasal sinus surgery has given rise to distinct extended procedures focusing on the frontal sinus. However, surgical results sometimes are flawed, with reactive scarring leading to a relapse of insufficiency of drainage and ventilation. Topical application of medicines may offer help, but the hidden operative field around the frontal sinus is not reached by the usual nasal drugs. The effectiveness of an intraoperative insertion of stents is still a subject of debate in the literature. In previous studies we have seen some positive results. Based on this fact we looked for additional modalities to boost the effectiveness of fronto-nasal stents. We present a new device acting both as a stent and also as a local drug-releasing system. The combination of two therapeutic modalities may improve our treatment results in endonasal frontal sinus surgery. The pharmaceutical basics of our device are presented, and the first clinical data are shown. The first clinical trial was completely successful. Modification of the polymer and also of the released pharmaceutical agents may provide future improvements and may allow additional applications of the system in other areas of our surgical specialty.