Objective: To evaluate the results of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in children with chronic sinusitis. The long-term outcomes and the relative factors were analyzed retrospectively.
Materials and methods: A total of 268 children (432 sides), 186 males and 82 females, aged 3 to 17 years (average, 14.3) were included in this study (underwent ESS). The postoperative follow-up time of 188 cases (305 sides, 70.1%) was over one year. The management during follow-up was adopted under nasal endoscope and local anesthesia. The postoperative treatment included cleaning operative cavity, nasal irrigation, antibiotics, steroid, immune regulator, etc.
Results: Overall cases included 89 cases (147 sides) of chronic sinusitis, 86 cases (142 sides) of nasal polyps and 13 cases (16 sides) of mucocele respectively. The cure rate was 70.2% (132 cases). 43 cases (22.9%) were improved, while other 13 cases were of no effect. Overall symptoms, 93.1% children with headache were improved, 85.1% children were free of nasal obstruction and 60.1% children gained a relief of purulent discharge. 11 cases had no change and 2 cases were worse compared with before surgery. 34 cases with anosmia were improved or recovered after ESS. The total effective rate of ESS was 93.1%. 8 cases received a revision ESS.
Conclusions: ESS in children with chronic sinusitis and polyps has a good long-term outcomes. The reasonable reservation of mucosa during ESS must be emphasized. The quality of follow-up is an important factor affecting the results of ESS. Whether the disciplinary preoperative management was made or not is the hypothesis of ESS indications.