Repeated early debridement does not provide significant symptomatic benefit after ESS

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Recovery

Background:

• Postoperative debridement is standard after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).
• Its impact on patient symptom experience remains under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of repeated postoperative debridement on symptom reduction following ESS.
• To compare patient-reported outcomes between frequent and infrequent debridement protocols.

Main Methods:

• 90 patients undergoing ESS were randomized into two groups: frequent debridement (3 times/week) or standard debridement (once at day 7).
• Both groups received standard saline douching.
• The Lund-MacKay Symptom Score was the primary outcome measure.

Main Results:

• Patients receiving frequent debridement reported less severe symptoms across all Lund-MacKay Score domains at one and four weeks post-surgery.
• A statistically significant reduction in discharge was observed at one week in the frequent debridement group (p=0.0025).
• Fewer nasal secretions were noted in the frequent debridement group at four weeks (14/84 vs. 38/93).

Conclusions:

• Repeated debridement in the first postoperative week yields only minor symptomatic benefits for ESS patients.
• Frequent debridement is not recommended due to limited subjective recovery improvements and potential increased healthcare costs.