COMPLICATIONS OF ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY IN A RESIDENCY TRAINING-PROGRAM

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is now taught in most otolaryngology re sidency programs in the United States. However, this is techically cha llenging surgery and concerns exist regarding patient safety early in the surgeon's learning curve. The authors reviewed 193 cases of ESS pe rformed by residents, under faculty supervision at our program, betwee n 1987 and 1992. Sixty-seven percent of patients underwent bilateral a nterior ethmoidectomy, 40% had bilateral total ethmoidectomy, and 44% had bilateral middle turbinate reduction. The overall complication rat e was 22% and included one major complication. Synechiae accounted for 50% of minor complications. There was no correlation between middle o r inferior turbinate reduction and the formation of synechiae. Posteri or ethmoidectomy was not associated with a significant increase in com plications. We conclude that ESS can be safely performed by otolaryngo logy residents in carefully structured and supervised training program s.