Effects of fibrin sealant-containing antibiotics in a rabbit model of chronic sinusitis

Postoperative complications of sinus surgery include bleeding, infection, a nd synechiae. Improved subjective outcomes in humans treated with fibrin se alant (FS) after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) have been reported. Strepto coccus pneumoniae was used to initiate chronic sinusitis in occluded rabbit sinuses in order to evaluate the role of FS in mucosal healing. Six weeks later, all animals had maxillary antrostomies. Homologous FS-containing cip rofloxicin (100 mg/mL) and clindamycin (15 mg/mL) was applied topically to treatment rabbits (n = 9). Control rabbits (n = 10) received no antibiotics . Two weeks into the recovery phase after antrostomies, all animals were re -examined. mucociliary transport velocity (mean +/- standard deviation in m m/minute) was measured in all sinuses (n = 38) during healthy (100% measura ble, 13.82 +/- 4.16), infected (18% measurable, 4.74 +/- 0.42), and recover y phases (5% measurable, 6.30 +/- 4.67). In both groups, mucopurulent disch arge was present in the majority of sinuses (control group 18/20, FS group 16/18). In addition, there was no significant difference in the recovery ph ase between the two groups when comparing changes in the size of antrostomi es microscopy did suggest a possible improvement in ciliary regeneration in the FS group. Application of FS-containing antibiotics did not appear to i mprove healing after ESS in our rabbit model of chronic sinusitis.