LONG-TERM RESULTS OF FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

Although much has been reported on the shortterm outcomes of functiona l endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), little has been reported with regar d to its long-term impact on chronic sinusitis, The senior author (D.W .K.) previously reported detailed subjective and endoscopic follow-up on 120 patients at a mean of 18 months following surgery. This current study represents a long-term follow-up (average, 7.8 years) of 72 pat ients (60%) from the same cohort, Of patients responding to a question about overall symptoms, 98.4% (n = 66) reported improvement compared with before surgery, There was a trend toward continued subjective imp rovement in symptom scores with longer follow-up, but the changes did not reach statistical significance, Thirteen patients (18%) required s ubsequent surgical procedures, Preoperative stage, prior surgery, and other factors that might affect outcome were evaluated. The study demo nstrates that excellent subjective results following FESS can be maint ained in the long term with appropriate postoperative management, The study also validates the concept that patients in whom the cavity can be normalized following surgery are unlikely to require further surger y.