[Microsurgery of the nose and paranasal sinuses; concept, technique and result]

1. The close relationship between an impaired nasal air passage or chronic diseases of the paranasal sinuses and the bronchial system seems to be generally accepted. 2. Any improvement of the nasal respiration and chronic infections of the sinuses obviously have a positive effect on pathologic lung function, bronchitis and asthma. Even though a causal connection between the treatment of the chronic nasal and paranasal infection and the decrease of pulmonary symptoms in chronic bronchitis and asthma could not be verified yet by valuable statistics, the transnasal surgery reduces heavy nasal symptoms in more that 90% of our cases. 3. We consider endonasal microsurgery to be the safest and most convenient technique in the treatment of chronic nasal and paranasal diseases. This minimal invasive surgery therefore is suitable as well for the treatment of recurrent diseases which unfortunately cannot be avoided in this area.