Long-term impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on asthma

Using objective and subjective criteria, we performed a study to assess the long-term impact of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma at an average follow-up of 6.5 year s. One hundred twenty patients who underwent FESS for chronic rhinosinusiti s were followed up for an average of 6.5 years (range 6.0 to 10.6 years). S eventy-two (60%) patients responded to a follow-up questionnaire, and 30 (4 2%) of them reported a history of asthma. Subjective levels of improvement and assessments of medication need were evaluated and statistically assesse d with parametric and nonparametric methods. Of these 30 patients, 27 (90%) reported that their asthma was better than it had been before FESS, 6.5 ye ars ago. Average reported improvement increased from 49% at 1.1 years after surgery to 65% at 6.5 years after surgery. Asthma attacks declined in 20 o f 27 (74.1%). Medication use for asthma showed similar improvement, with ap proximately half reporting less inhaler usage and nearly two thirds reporti ng less oral steroid use. This study demonstrates that a combination of FES S, careful postoperative care, and appropriate medical therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis has a favorable longterm effect on asthma in patients with s ymptomatic chronic sinusitis. In this study asthma severity, frequency of a ttacks, and medication need were all improved.