MIDDLE MEATAL ANTROSTOMY - LONG-TERM PATENCY AND RESULTS IN CHRONIC MAXILLARY SINUSITIS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

This prospective study included 51 patients with chronic maxillary sin usitis who had 90 middle meatal antrostomy procedures. The aim of the study was to examine the long-term patency of the antrostomy 18-30 mon ths post-operatively (average 26 months) and the relationship between the degree of patency and the degree of improvement in each of the sym ptoms of chronic maxillary sinusitis. Our results showed patency as fo llows: 80% widely patent (more than 8 mm), 9% patent (5-8 mm), 4.5% st enosed (less than 5 mm), 6.5% blocked by mucosal disease and none were closed by bone. For all symptoms, there was a significant relationshi p between the degree of patency and the degree of improvement (P < 0.0 1 for headache, nasal obstruction and pain, P < 0.05 for post-nasal di scharge). We conclude from this study that middle meatal antrostomy ha s a long-term high patency rate and there is a significant relationshi p between the degree of patency and the degree of improvement in each of the symptoms of chronic maxillary sinusitis.