Abstract
Functional endoscopic (FES) and radical Caldwell-Luc (C-L) surgical approaches were compared in a prospective randomized trial of 150 consecutive patients (aged 14–88 years) suffering from chronic maxillary sinusitis over 3 months’ duration refractory to medical and repeated antral irrigation therapy. A total of 143 patients with 109 operated antra in the C-L group and 127 antra in the FES group were available for the follow-up nasal and antral endoscopic examination median 12 months postoperatively. Both modalities proved effective in relieving subjective symptoms. Postoperatively, FES antra contained markedly fewer secretions, although the endoscopically enlarged natural antral ostium was closed in 18.6% of the sinuses. The inferior meatal antrostomies of the C-L operation were markedly stenosed or closed in 31.4% of the sinuses. Antral mucosal thickness and antral polyps diminished significantly after both operations, but large polyps were found more often after FES.
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