ENDONASAL MICROSURGICAL REVISION SINUS SU RGERY

In order to compare long-term-results of revision sinus surgery with t he results of primary sinus surgery, the charts of 226 patients were r eviewed 17-72 months (mean 42.3 months) after endonasal microsurgical ethmoidectomy or sphenoethmoidectomy, respectively (primary operation, n=135; revision operation, n=91). Additionally, 203 of the patients w ere asked to subjectively evaluate the success of the sinus surgery by means of a questionnaire. Responses were received from 67.5% of the p atients (primary operation, n=82; revision operation, n=55). Eighty-th ree percent of the primary group and 82% of the revision patients felt that their operations had been successful, whereas the remaining pati ents thought it to have been a failure. The most frequent complication s were temporary postoperative edema or hematoma of the lower eyelid, the complication rate being 8.8% in both groups. NO serious complicati ons were observed. Additionally, it was found that the results of endo nasal sinus surgery did not depend on the medical history of the patie nt, preoperative CT findings, or the surgical techniques employed. The se findings suggest, that despite all diagnostic and therapeutic tools being available at present we still cannot prohibit, that after sinus surgery 15%-20% of patients will develop recurrent sinus polyposis, a nd are unable to predict, in which patient and at what time the diseas e will recur. From this point of view the availability of an almost at raumatic sinus surgery by means of an endonasal (microscopic or endosc opic) approach is definitely a great advantage for patients with chron ic sinus disease.