The impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on symptoms in chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis restricts the quality of life of millions of involved patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate how functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) modifies symptom profiles in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Questionnaires were given to eighty patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, who underwent FESS, to assess typically related symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed with the Wilcoxon test. Leading symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis were nasal obstruction in 93.7% and post nasal discharge in 86.2% of the patients. Furthermore, patients reported anterior nasal discharge in 72.5%, headache in 65% and hyposmia in 62.5% of the patients. One year postoperatively all the symptoms were significantly improved : nasal obstruction in 87%, post nasal discharge in 74.3%, anterior nasal discharge in 70.5%, headache in 59.4% and hyposmia in 58.7% of the patients. Our results showed that FESS is an adequate and effective method in treatment patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. On the other hand, the questionnaire used in the present study was easy to handle for the patients and allowed successful quantification of sinusitis-related symptoms.