RESUMEN
Objective To evaluate the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for treating fungal rhinosinusitis. Methods A total of 19 patients with fungal rhinosinusitis were treated under endoscope in this hospital from January 2000 to December 2003. In operation, the polyps or granulations in the middle nasal meatus were cleared away. Then after the removal of the uncinate process, all sinus ostiums were enlarged to further get rid of pathological tissues in the sinus. During the surgery the sinus was repeatedly irrigated with 3% H_2O_2. If the drainage of the sinus ostium had been affected by the narrowing of the middle meatus resulted from a deviation of the nasal septum, a synchronal correction of the nasal septum was carried out. Results Symptoms remitted in 5 patients and disappeared in 14 postoperatively. Follow-up for 6~48 months (mean, 14 months) in 19 patients found 2 patients with recurrence, which was re-operated on with the Caldwell-Luc procedure. No complications were observed. Conclusions The ESS is effective in the treatment of non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis. However, this technique cannot replace the Caldwell-Luc procedure in the management of serious fungal maxillary sinusitis.