Nasal polypectomy in patients with asthma and sensitivity to aspirin

Nasal polypectomy is safe in patients with asthma and intolerance to aspirin. Asthma should be controlled before polypectomy. Patency of the nasal airway after the operation and the effect of polypectomy on asthma are independent of severity of the asthma, history of atopy, and administration of steroids. We reviewed retrospectively the courses of 101 patients with the asthma triad who had nasal polypectomies between 1970 and 1974. Before polypectomy, 39 patients were hospitalized to control active asthma: during the postoperative hospitalization, 19 had wheezing, mostly mild. Of the 62 patients with inactive asthma, three had wheezing postoperatively. Asthmatic condition at one year after polypectomy, compared with the condition at one year before, was improved in 30 patients, worse in 14, and unchanged in the rest. Nasal airways remained good for at least one year in 60% of the patients.