Postoperative Care in Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Objective: To assess the value of nonintervention after FESS.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Methods: Fifty-five patients with diagnosed chronic rhinosinusitis who failed adequate medical therapy were subjected to FESS. No postoperative care, apart from nasal douching with hypertonic saline after the tenth postoperative day, was done. No antibiotics or steroids were administered routinely. Because 10 patients were not available for follow-up, only 45 patients were included in the study.

Results: Success rate judged by at least 50% subjective improvement of symptoms was 95.5%. However, all patients derived some benefit. The occurrence of postoperative synechiae is discussed.

Conclusions: The usefulness of postoperative care of the FESS cavity needs reappraisal.