Trends and complications in functional endoscopic sinus surgery and balloon sinuplasty: A TriNetX database analysis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Balloon sinuplasty (BSP) and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) are common sinus procedures.
• Understanding their utilization trends and comparative outcomes is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate national trends in BSP and FESS utilization over the past decade.
• To compare postoperative outcomes between BSP and FESS.
• To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these surgical trends.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the TriNetX database to identify patients undergoing FESS or BSP between 2011 and 2024.
• Collected data on patient demographics, diagnoses, and postoperative outcomes.
• Analyzed surgical volumes, complication rates, revision rates, readmissions, and ER visits.

Main Results:

• FESS patients had higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and chronic pulmonary disease.
• Postoperative complication rates were similar between BSP and FESS.
• BSP demonstrated lower overall revision rates, 30-day readmissions, and ER visits compared to FESS.
• Surgical volumes for both procedures increased pre-pandemic, with BSP volume growing at a faster rate.
• Both procedures experienced a significant volume decrease at the onset of COVID-19.

Conclusions:

• Surgical volumes for BSP and FESS have generally increased, with a notable decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• BSP and FESS have distinct complication profiles, highlighting the need for careful patient selection.
• Preoperative counseling is essential for managing patient expectations and optimizing outcomes for both procedures.