Perioperative care in functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a survey study

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Practice Patterns
• Chronic Rhinosinusitis Management

Background:

• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a standard treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) resistant to medical therapy.
• Current postoperative care protocols for FESS lack a universally agreed-upon standard.
• This study aimed to survey otolaryngologists' current perioperative FESS care practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey otolaryngologists regarding their perioperative care practices for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).
• To identify common trends and variations in postoperative management of CRS patients undergoing FESS.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to 859 otolaryngologists identified via the AAO-HNS directory.
• Responses were collected anonymously, with a 32% response rate.
• The survey gathered data on various aspects of perioperative FESS care.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of respondents utilize nasal saline irrigations (93.2%) postoperatively.
• The majority prescribe immediate postoperative antibiotics (86.8%).
• Office-based endoscopic sinus debridements are common, performed by 87.9% of surveyed surgeons.

Conclusions:

• Significant variability exists in perioperative FESS care among otolaryngologists.
• Current practices are not uniformly guided by evidence-based outcomes research.
• Despite variations, discernible practice patterns in perioperative FESS management are evident.