SYMPTOMATIC OUTCOME IN CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS PATIENTS AFTER ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY - A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses that is frequent. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is commonly used to treat intractable CRS cases. Although the effect of ESS on CRS symptoms has been researched, the pattern of symptom relief after ESS for CRS remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent and order of symptom improvement following ESS for CRS. This was a long-term prospective study of 54 CRS patients. The Sino-nasal Outcome Test- 22 (SNOT-22) questionnaire was utilised for assessment at five periods throughout the study: pre-ESS, one week after ESS, one month, three months, and six months after ESS. The following differences in mean scores were seen between pre-ESS and 6 months post-ESS for the five SNOT-22 domains: rhinologic symptoms, extra-nasal rhinologic symptoms, ear/facial symptoms, psychological dysfunction, and sleep dysfunction (p-value = 0.001). Understanding the pattern of symptom improvement after ESS for CRS will benefit in patient counselling and the optimisation of current treatment protocols in order to maximise surgical results and quality of life.