[Endonasal ethmoidectomy in naso-sinusal polyposis. Results in 110 surgically treated patients]

We assessed retrospectively functional and endoscopic results obtained in 110 patients who underwent endonasal ethmoidectomy (n = 218). The patients were divided into 3 groups according to associated pathology (polyposis alone, asthma without intolerance to aspirin, Widal's disease) and outcome was evaluated after a mean 19.5 month follow-up. Function was improved in 88% of the patients. Endoscopic recurrence was seen in 40% of the patients including 10% with major polyposis. Oedema of the mucose remained in 20% of the patients and the mucosa was normal in 40%. Improvement in patients with Widal's disease was the least favourable among the three groups and was best in those with asthma and no intolerance to aspirin. Post-operative complications occurred in 12.6% of the patients and were severe in 0.9%. These satisfactory results, both in terms of function and the low rate of complications, suggest that the current medicosurgical management should be continued with particular attention to the rate of endoscopic recurrence.