Intranasal antrostomy--cause of failure.

A brief historical review of the intranasal antrostomy is followed by a list of possible causes of failure of the procedure. Definitions of various terms employed are given and a full description of the author's technique of making the antral window. Long-term follow-up of between 6 and 12 years has been possible in 87 patients. The various causes of recurrent problems in this group of patients are reported. Emphasis is placed on the desirability of informing the patient of the reasons for the antrostomy and explaining what can and cannot be expected from the procedure.