Advanced and recurrent cases of nasal polypi-the treatment of choice

ABSTRACT

To compare the internal and external ethmoidectomy in managing advanced and recurrent cases of nasal polypi. This prospective study of 50 cases of either sex was carried at the department of Otolaryngology, at Allied hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, using randomized probability technique. Patients were evaluated using a proforma. Radiology included the plain X-ray and CT scan with contrast in both axial and coronal views in all the cases. MRI was done in selected cases. Male to Female ratio 41. In our study modalities of treatment offered to the patients were external ethmoidectomy 25 [50%] and internal ethmoidectomy 25 [50%]. Recurrence incidence was 8% among the patients who underwent external ethmoidectomy while 40% among the patients who underwent internal ethmodoidectomy. Most of the complications were hemorrhage [12%] and synaechiae [6%], less common were meningitis [2%], injury to dura [2%] and CSF rhinorrhoea [2%]. For advanced and recurrent cases of nasal polypi, external ethmoidectomy should be offered as the first line of management [in the absence of FESS and image guided surgery] which gives better results as far as recurrence is concerned