Abstract
Controversy continues concerning the optimal anesthetic technique when completing endoscopic sinus surgery. To attempt to investigate the results using different anesthetic techniques, experience with endoscopic sinus surgery over 12 months (233 cases) was retrospectively reviewed. The use of local anesthetic injection with or without regional blocks (specifically ethmoid and greater palatine) was evaluated, as was the choice of general anesthesia versus local technique in a context of blood loss, patient comfort, and complications. Regional block technique appears to add morbidity for little additional benefit. Endoscopic sinus surgery may be performed safely in appropriately selected patients using either general anesthesia or local infiltration with sedation.
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