Change in Cardinal Symptoms of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Surgery vs. Medical Therapy

What is the change in cardinal symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) for those undergoing medical therapy versus surgery for management?

Bottom Line: For patients with CRS, endoscopic sinus surgery results in significantly greater improvement in cardinal symptoms of CRS, including thick nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, and nasal blockage/congestion when compared with ongoing medical therapy alone. For those with nasal polyps, significant improvement in smell and taste abnormality is also seen.

Background: CRS is an inflammatory disorder of the paranasal sinuses defined symptomatically as 12 weeks or more of two or more “cardinal symptoms,” including nasal obstruction, thick nasal discharge, facial pain/pressure, and reduction or loss of sense of smell. While numerous studies have described the impact of surgery on these symptoms, this study seeks to compare the impact of surgery with that of ongoing medical therapy alone.

Study design: Prospective cohort.