Long-term results after endoscopic sinus surgery involving frontal recess dissection.
OBJECTIVE
To assess long-term follow-up on a cohort of patients who underwent endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with identification and preservation of the natural frontal outflow tract.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review, telephone interview, and endoscopic evaluation on a previously studied cohort of patients at a university affiliated medical center.


RESULTS
Two hundred patients who underwent endoscopic frontal sinus surgery were previously studied and reported after short-term (mean = 12.2 mo) follow-up. One hundred fifty-two (76%) patients were available for long-term (mean 72.3 mo) follow-up and assessment of subjective symptoms. Fifty-seven of 152 (37.5%) patients also had nasal endoscopy for evaluation of objective findings. The percentage of patients responding to telephone interview reporting overall improvement after surgery was 92.4%. Endoscopic assessment revealed patency of the frontal sinus in 67.6% of the patients after initial surgery. Thirteen additional patients had patent sinuses after revision procedures, bringing overall patency rate to 71.1%. We found statistically significant correlation of asthma and smoking and poor subjective and objective outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term assessment of subjective and objective findings in our previously reported cohort of patients who underwent frontal sinus surgery indicates that the frontal sinus, similar to any other sinus, can be successfully treated surgically by preserving the natural frontal sinus outflow tract.
Department of Otolaryngology and Bronchoesophagology, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60602, USA.
Michael
M
Friedman
Darius
D
Bliznikas
Ramakrishnan
R
Vidyasagar
Ninos J
NJ
Joseph
Roee
R
Landsberg
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005626:Frontal Sinus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010254:Paranasal Sinus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome