An anatomic approach to endoscopic intranasal ethmoidectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an anatomic and functionally based approach to endoscopic intranasal ethmoidectomy. To develop such an approach using the salient features of the anterior to posterior (AP) and posterior to anterior (PA) intranasal sinus operations. To assess the safety of this form of ethmoidectomy in a patient population.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing ethmoidectomy by author or by residents under his direct supervision.


METHODS
University teaching hospital. In the 509 patients meeting study criteria, 168 anterior ethmoidectomies, 586 total ethmoidectomies, 264 sphenoidotomies, 290 frontal sinusotomies, and 838 antrostomies were performed between April 1992 and August 1997.


RESULTS
A complication rate of 0.98% and revision rate 2.9% were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining an AP approach to conserve sinus anatomy with a PA approach to avoid surgery directed toward the skull base provides a functional and safe procedure as demonstrated by the reported results.
Schaefer
S D
SD
Department of Otolaryngology, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary/New York Medical College, NY 10003, USA.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000601:surgery; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000601:surgery; D019291:Skull Base / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery