Combined anterior-to-posterior and posterior-to-anterior approach to paranasal sinus surgery: an update.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an anatomically 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 the authors or by residents under their direct supervision.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


RESULTS
Two thousand three hundred and forty-four patients underwent either unilateral or bilateral ethmoidectomies between April 1992 and August 2005. A complication rate of 0.34% was 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
Steven D
SD
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, NY, New York 10003, USA. sschaefer@nyee.edu
Li
James C L
JC
Chan
Edwin K
EK
Wu
Zhenqing B
ZB
Branovan
Daniel I
DI
D004724:Endoscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome