title: Do antral washouts have a place in the current management of chronic sinusitis?
abstract: Antral washouts have been widely used in the management of chronic sinusitis. With the advent of modern antibiotics and powerful topical nasal steroids, we sought to establish if a role remains for this procedure. One hundred and fourteen patients with chronic sinusitis were randomised into two groups. Patients in Group A received antral washouts followed by antibiotics and topical nasal steroids. Patients in the Group B received antibiotics and topical nasal steroids alone. In each group 51.6 per cent and 50 per cent of patients respectively improved with treatment. The outcome of treatment is also not influenced by endoscopic abnormality. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.86). The study indicates that half of patients with chronic sinusitis will improve with medical treatment but the addition of antral washout confers no additional benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Salford Royal Hospital NHS Trust (University of Manchester School of Medicine, UK.
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Willatt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents