title: Avoiding Complications in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.
abstract: Complications of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) can range from the mundane to the catastrophic, with nasal hemorrhage being the most common. Intraorbital and intracranial complications are much less common. Despite the rarity of complications, they are often avoidable. Certain identifiable risk factors can be appreciated during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative evaluations of the sinus patient. With awareness of these risk factors the rhinologist can develop a strategic plan of risk factor mitigation. This article identifies areas of increased risk that are amenable to preventive strategies before complications become realized.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: ihumphre@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.affiliation: Division of Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, 801 Welch Road, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Avoiding complications of ESS; Complications of ESS; Risks of ESS