Complications of intranasal ethmoidectomy: a review of 1,000 consecutive operations.

A series of 1,000 consecutive intranasal ethmoidectomies performed on 565 patients was reviewed. There were 28 complications (2.8%) in 26 patients. No patient died, and none became blind. This experience suggests that, in experienced hands, intranasal ethmoidectomy for polypoid disease and chronic ethmoid sinusitis can be a safe operation.