Per- and postoperative management of functional endoscopic sinus surgery. A questionnaire of otorhinolaryngologists in Flanders.

For some years, the popularity of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for the management of rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis has increased significantly. Different indications, techniques and complication surveys are described. The aims of this study were to evaluate the situation of FESS in Flanders, to analyse the differences in per- and postoperative techniques and the related complications, and to look for the educational background of the surgeons. To collect sufficient data, a confidential questionnaire was posted to 197 ENT surgeons and they were asked about there practice in FESS (frequency, indications, per- and postoperative management, complications, educational background). The response rate was 60%. From the responders, 84% performed FESS. The procedure, using an endoscope, was mostly performed under general anaesthesia during hospitalisation. The most common major complication was a cerebro-spinal fluid leak. There is no positive influence of supplementary courses on the decrease of major complications. There is no direct evidence which postoperative technique is best to avoid minor complications.