OUR EXPERIENCES WITH THE ENDOSCOPIC-ENDON ASAL SURGICAL TECHNIQUE IN THE TREATMENT OF SINUSITIS IN CHILDHOOD

At the ENT-Department of the University-Hospital of Graz the endoscopi c-endonasal surgical approach according to Messerklinger and Stammberg er has been used for years in the treatment of inflammatory diseases o f the paranasal sinuses in the paediatric population. Especially in ch ildren this technique concern the growing facial part of the skull and tooth buds. It is very safe and effective, since it is adapted to the physiology and pathophysiology of the respiratory mucosa. In a retros pective study 145 patients who were operated on within 11 years at the ENT-Department of the University-Hospital of Graz, were investigated to evaluate this method. Information about the age of patients, preope rative symptoms, predisposing factors, indications for surgery, the op erative procedure itself and its extension such as intraoperative prob lems and complications were included in this study. By a subjective pa tient evaluation the stress placed on the patient by the procedure and the therapeutic success were investigated. From the good results of t his study we infer the justification for the primary use of this surgi cal method in inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses in childr en.