The role of functional endoscopic sinus surgery in asthmatic patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) on sinus and asthma symptoms.

METHOD

Seventy-nine patients with asthma and medically unresponsive sinusitis were evaluated. Maximal medical therapy was attempted to relieve both sinus and asthma symptoms. The surgical procedures involved standard FESS techniques. Fifty-six percent of patients had undergone a sinus procedure prior to the FESS. Nasal polyposis was noted in 73% of the group. The majority of patients had pansinusitis.

RESULTS

Eighty-six percent of patients stated that FESS improved their sinusitis. Nine of 11 sinus symptoms recorded preoperatively diminished significantly (p < .05) following surgery. Eighty percent of patients noted improvement of their asthma following FESS. The factors associated with treatment failure and the unique characteristics of this disease process were evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

FESS is a viable option in the treatment of asthma when medical therapy fails.