The intranasal ethmoidectomy: a 12-year perspective.

Two hundred thirty-six intranasal ethmoidectomies were performed on 123 patients during a 12-year period. Four complications representing an incidence of 1.7% are reported with no mortality, blindness, or permanent orbital injuries. An overall 83% (38 patients) success rate in controlling nasal polyposis is recorded in dealing with 46 obstructed nasal polyposis-pansinusitis patients. A subgrouping of 26 patients having had prior polypectomy sinus surgical treatment revealed an 81% (21 patients) control of nasal polyposis. With revision ethmoidectomy surgical treatment, a 91% (42 patients) overall success rate is recorded, and a 92% (24 patients) success rate is noted in the subgrouping. There appears to be no difference between these two groups, implying that the intranasal ethmoidectomy procedure may be the important factor in the control of nasal polyposis.