DO ANTRAL WASHOUTS HAVE A PLACE IN THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC SINUSITIS

Antral washouts have been widely used in the management of chronic sin usitis. With the advent of modern antibiotics and powerful topical nas al steroids, we sought to establish if a role remains for this procedu re. One hundred and fourteen patients with chronic sinusitis were rand omised into two groups. Patients in Group A received antral washouts f ollowed by antibiotics and topical nasal steroids. Patients in the Gro up B received antibiotics and topical nasal steroids alone. In each gr oup 51.6 per cent and 50 per cent of patients respectively improved wi th treatment. The outcome of treatment is also not influenced by endos copic abnormality. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.86). The study indicates that half of patients with chronic sinus itis will improve with medical treatment but the addition of antral wa shout confers no additional benefits.