[The evolution of methods of active irrigation of paranasal sinuses in rhinosinusitis. Part 1]

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses significantly reduces the quality of life of people and causes marked economic damage to society. The striking clinical picture of sinusitis has always forced doctors to study the disease, as evidenced by the first records of the anatomy and diseases of the paranasal sinuses by doctors in ancient Egypt more than 3.000 years BC. Sinusitis has been treated in different ways in different historical periods. Effective medication treatment appeared relatively recently and began to steadily replace the older instrumental methods, to which many people had a preconceived notion of invasiveness. However, many studies are showing the positive effect of active drainage methods and, moreover, there is data showing that the discomfort during such procedures is slightly higher than during dental treatment under local anesthesia. This article presents a review of the available scientific literature on the use of different treatments for bacterial rhinosinusitis at different historical stages, ranging from the first publications on puncture techniques to balloon dilatation and the modern approach to conservative treatment.