Revision surgery rates in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: meta-analysis of risk factors

BACKGROUND

Wide variations in revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) rates for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) have been reported. It is important to understand expected revision rates and factors that impact the need for revision.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed on studies that reported revision surgery data for CRSwNP patients.

RESULTS

Forty-five studies with 34,220 subjects were meta-analyzed, with an overall revision rate of 18.6% (95% confidence interval, 14.1%-23.6%). Studies with extractable follow-up data reported a mean revision rate of 16.2% over a weighted mean follow-up of 89.6 months. Factors associated with increased revision rates included allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (28.7%), aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (27.2%), asthma (22.6%), prior polypectomy (26.0%), and publication prior to 2008 (22.7%) (p < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

Although polyps can recur after ESS, reported long-term ESS revision rates are approximately 14% to 24%. Identifying risk factors for revision surgery can help manage patient expectations and determine optimal personalized treatments.

Significance of undissected retromaxillary air cells as a risk factor for revision endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND

Retromaxillary air cells (RMC) are posterior ethmoid cells that separate the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. The clinical significance of these cells in contributing to revision functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence, anatomic dimensions, and radiographic characteristics of RMC in patients with recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis after previous FESS.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients who underwent revision FESS at a tertiary medical center between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2014. Computed tomographies of patients who underwent revision FESS, including posterior ethmoidectomies, were reviewed. Each side of the scan was assessed for residual RMCs. The radiographic dimensions and Lund-Mackay (LM) scores of these cells were recorded.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients who underwent revision FESS were identified. The median age of the patient population was 51 years (range, 21-79 years). Forty-two percent of the patients had nasal polyps. The mean number of previous FESS was 2 (range, 1-10). Incompletely dissected RMCs were identified in 101 of 138 analyzed sides (73%), despite documented previous posterior ethmoidectomies. Sixty-five percent of RMCs had an LM score of ≥1; RMCs of patients with polyps were more likely to have an LM score of 2 (p = 0.049). There was a significant correlation between the number of previous FESS procedures and whether the RMCs had been dissected (p = 0.010). There also was a significant correlation between RMC height and the number of previous FESS procedures (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

RMCs seemed to often be undissected during primary FESS and, thus, were commonly encountered in revision FESS. The majority of analyzed cells in this cohort demonstrated an LM score of ≥1, which indicated that these cells frequently harbor residual diseased mucosa that may contribute to the need for revision surgery.

Extensive versus functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and asthma: A 1-year study

BACKGROUND

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is considered to be the standard procedure for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, for CRSwNP that accompanies asthma, the results are not satisfying. Extensive endoscopic sinus surgery (EESS) aimed at reducing the inflammatory load has been indicated as a viable option for refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of EESS (middle turbinate and superior turbinate resection and total ethmoidectomy) for patients with CRSwNP and with asthma.

METHODS

This was a prospective, single-institute cohort study conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital. Patients with CRSwNP and with asthma who were proceeding to surgery were enrolled. There were 23 patients in the EESS group and 24 patients in the FESS group. The preoperative disease severity was evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS), Lund-Kennedy (L-K) endoscopy score, computed tomography Lund-Mackay score, asthma control test (ACT), and pulmonary function test. Clinical outcomes were comparatively evaluated between the two groups after a 1-year follow-up by using the VAS score, the postoperative endoscopic score (E score), L-K score, ACT score, and pulmonary function test.

RESULTS

The disease severity (general VAS score, endoscopic L-K score, computed tomography score, ACT score) showed no significant differences between the two groups before surgery (p > 0.05). One year after surgery, both groups achieved significant improvement in the VAS score and endoscopic L-K score. The EESS group showed better improvement in the olfactory VAS score and E score compared with the FESS group (mean [standard deviation] change of olfactory VAS, 6.00 ± 3.67 versus 3.30 ± 3.44, p = 0.015; mean [standard deviation] E score, 0.31 ± 0.18 versus 0.66 ± 0.26, p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the change of general nasal symptom VAS score, other individual VAS scores (nasal congestion, discharge, headache and/or facial pain), L-K score, ACT score, and pulmonary function between the two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EESS for patients with CRSwNP and with asthma may help to improve the subjective olfaction and endoscopic appearance.