Adult chronic rhinosinusitis: Surgical outcomes and the role of endoscopic sinus surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the recent literature as to the role of and data supporting endoscopic sinus surgery for the treatment of adult chronic rhinosinusitis. RECENT FINDINGS: Many studies have been published evaluating patient responses to endoscopic sinus surgery. These responses have included subjective measures such as patient-reported symptoms, and subjective symptoms measured objectively, as seen with quality-of-life instruments. Others have used objective measures such as endoscopy scores, medication use and financial impact to measure responses to surgery. These studies have varying follow-up, with patients followed for up to several years postsurgery. The results are very consistent, with most studies reporting improvement in both subjective and objective findings postoperatively. SUMMARY: The data in the literature clearly support the use of functional endoscopic sinus surgery in cases of chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to medical therapy. Surgery has been shown to improve patient symptoms, quality of life and intranasal endoscopic exam.