A survey of contemporary management of frontal sinus disease in the UnitedKingdom

Surgery for frontal sinus disease historically has required an external app roach. With the advent of endoscopic sinus surgery, endoscopic treatment fo r various frontal sinus pathologies has been described. This survey examine d how widespread the use of endoscopy in frontal surgery has become. We wer e interested both in the acute emergency situation and in the more chronic situations such as mucocoeles. The replies of 266 practising United Kingdom surgeons to a postal questionnaire were evaluated. While 45% of surgeons r egularly practise functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), approximately 25% would attempt endoscopic drainage of acute frontal sinusitis and most perform an external trephine. Most surgeons also rely oil external approach es to manage mucocoeles or pyocoeles (54%), although some (39%) attempt end oscopic drainage if die cyst lies sufficiently medially. Even with recurren t or intractable disease one-third attempt endoscopic surgery, When externa l surgery is used in the United Kingdom, only a small number of surgeons fa vour obliteration.