Functional endonasal sinus surgery in adults and children.

Functional endonasal sinus surgery (FESS) is becoming the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of chronic and recurrent sinusitis in adults and children. Retrospective analysis of the charts of 513 adult and 260 pediatric patients who underwent FESS after failing to respond to optimal medical treatment revealed an improvement rate of approximately 80% for both age groups. Although high response rates and low complication rates were found for both groups, there were significant differences in indications, preoperative evaluation, operative technique, and methods of postoperative follow-up for children.