Balloon catheter sinuplasty for chronic rhinosinusitis: feasibility and impact on quality of life

To evaluate the outcome of balloon sinuplasty for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis [CRS] and its impact on patients' symptom and quality of life scoring The study included 35 patients with mean age of 34.1 +/- 4.4 years. All patients underwent complete otorhinolaryngological examination and endoscopic staging according to Lund and Kennedy endoscopic score. CT scans of paranasal sinuses were assessed according to Lund-Mackay scale. All patients underwent symptoms and quality of life assessment using Sino Nasal Outcome Test-20 [SNOT-20]. All patients underwent balloon catheter sinuplasty under guide of fiberoptic nasal endoscope. Patients were assessed at three and six months after dilatation for SNOT-20 score. Intraoperative catheter insertion and advancement was accomplished successfully in 26 patients with a procedural success rate of 92.9% and the other two patients were shifted to FESS and were excluded of follow-up. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were encountered. Intraoperative bleeding was minimal and controllable without the need for nasal packing and all patients were discharged once they were ready for. All patients showed progressive improvement of SNOT-20 scoring that showed significant improvement at 3-months and 6-months follow-up evaluation compared to baseline score with significantly lower scores determined at 6-months compared versus 3-months. Balloon catheter sinuplasty is a feasible, safe and effective therapeutic modality for CRS associated with significant improvement of patients' quality of life and could be managed as one-day surgical procedure