Complications of endoscopic sinus surgery in a residency training program.

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is now taught in most otolaryngology residency programs in the United States. However, this is technically challenging surgery and concerns exist regarding patient safety early in the surgeon's learning curve. The authors reviewed 193 cases of ESS performed by residents, under faculty supervision at our program, between 1987 and 1992. Sixty-seven percent of patients underwent bilateral anterior ethmoidectomy, 40% had bilateral total ethmoidectomy, and 44% had bilateral middle turbinate reduction. The overall complication rate was 22% and included one major complication. Synechiae accounted for 50% of minor complications. There was no correlation between middle or inferior turbinate reduction and the formation of synechiae. Posterior ethmoidectomy was not associated with a significant increase in complications. We conclude that ESS can be safely performed by otolaryngology residents in carefully structured and supervised training programs.