Sinus Surgery Worth the Effort

Reported May 07, 2009

(Ivanhoe Newswire) – People who elect to have endoscopic sinus surgery to relieve the pain and suffering associated with chronic rhinosinusitis can rest assured of the results.

According to Georgetown University Medical Center researchers who pooled data from 21 previous studies, this type of surgery leads to improvements in nasal obstruction, postnasal discharge, facial pain, headaches, and sense of smell.

In addition to the improvements seen in patients right after having the surgery, the meta-analysis also suggests relief is long lasting, with the benefits sustained over time for most patients.

“Reports of relative symptom relief vary across studies, so it was important to pool the study results. We wanted to know not only if symptoms improve overall, but if they improve to a similar degree, and if these benefits last,” study author Alexander C. Chester, M.D., was quoted as saying. “Our findings offer reassurance that, with minor exceptions, individual symptoms usually improve substantially and similarly following surgery.”

Overall, the studies assessed by Dr. Chester and his colleagues included more than 2,000 patients. While sinus surgery is common – more than 200,000 such procedures are performed every year -- this is the first meta-analysis of outcomes.

The findings from this study should help guide treatment decisions, continues the researcher. “We now have the information we need to more accurately advise our patients.”

SOURCE: Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, published online May 1, 2009