Effect evaluation of repeated debridement after endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of early phase debridement by the different intervention frequencies on postoperative symptoms recovery and turnover of mucosa after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). METHODS 67 patients undergone FESS were divided into intervention group and control group. Intranasal corticosteroids, macrolides antibiotics and postoperative saline douching were used in both groups. Debridement was performed on the 1(st), 4(th), 8(th) postoperative week on patients of invention group, while once per week on patients of control group. The primary outcome measure was visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lund-Kennedy Endoscopic Score (LKES) Results: On the 4(th) week, the control group presented more release on nasal block, the VAS of the two groups is 3.45 ± 1.16 and 4.83 ± 1.47 in the control group and intervention group respectively which was significantly different. The LKES on crust decreased more in the control group (1.12 ± 0.64 in the control group and 1.90 ± 0.47 in the intervention group). However, the control group complained more sever facial pain and uncomfortable; the VAS of two groups is 5.92 ± 0.91 and 2.74 ± 1.41 respectively. On the 8(th) week, there were no significant difference between the two groups on all domains of VAS and LKES except lower scar was shown in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Benefit of frequent debridement during the early postoperative was not in positive correlation with patients recovering from ESS. Excessive debridement may induce more surgical trauma and cause more facial pain to patients. Therefore, in terms of subjective recovery and health care costs, appropriate extending postoperative management time and decreasing intervention frequencies will not affect the therapeutic effect of endoscopic surgery for chronic sinusitis.