Relation of age to outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery in children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in children has a better outcome at a certain age.


METHODS
Cohort study in a tertiary care children's hospital.


METHODS
Ninety-nine children who underwent ESS between January 1994 and June 1999.


METHODS
Determining ESS outcomes was based on answers to a questionnaire mailed to the caregivers at least 1 year after surgery. Outcomes were considered failures if children required revision surgery or if their symptoms were not improved.


RESULTS
The overall ESS success rate was 82%. Univariate analysis of age and surgery outcome revealed that children older than 6 years had an 89% success rate but that children younger than 6 years had a 73% success rate (P =.04). Of the 99 patients, 11 (9%) required revision surgery. Among them, 9 were younger and 2 were older than 6 years (P =.008). Of the 4 children younger than 3 years, 3 (75%) required revision surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic sinus surgery in children younger than 3 years was not successful but it was beneficial in children older than 6 years. It may be beneficial at any age if a complication from chronic sinusitis occurs; however, for children younger than 6 years, revision surgery may later be necessary.
Ramadan
Hassan H
HH
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia University, PO Box 9200, Morgantown, WV 26506-9200, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000601:surgery*