Endonasal sinus surgery with endoscopical control: from radical operation to rehabilitation of the mucosa.

The radical operations of the paranasal sinuses with total removal of the diseased mucosa very often produced postoperative disability due to scar formation and nerve irritation. A new concept of endonasal sinus surgery is based on the reestablishment of paranasal draining, reventilation, and preservation of the lining mucosa. This became possible by a strictly endonasal approach using angle-optic endoscopes for the optical control of manipulations. The principles of endonasal antrostomy, ethmoidectomy, and infundibulotomy are outlined, and their preliminary results are given. The importance of long-range postoperative local treatment is emphasized.