COMPLICATIONS OF ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY - ANALYSIS OF 2108 PATIENTS- INCIDENCE AND PREVENTION

The incidence of complications of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in a combined experience with 2108 total patients is compared to complicati ons in 11 other series of patients (2583 total) who underwent ESS and 6 series of patients (2110 total) who underwent traditional endonasal sinus surgery. The incidence of major perioperative complications was 0.85%, with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak being the most common. The most common minor complications of ESS were those related to orbital p enetration and middle turbinate adhesions; minor complications occurre d in 6.9% of the 2108 patients. There were no statistically significan t differences in the overall incidences of major complications between this series and the other two groups. Recommendations are made for th e prevention of complications during ESS.