Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyposis: A Comparative Study

Nasal polyposis are common presentations in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis and are considered to be associated with more severe forms of disease with poor treatment outcome. The presentation and treatment outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery in patients of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis have been analysed in this study. A prospective analysis of 90 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis who were classified into two groups depending on presence and absence of nasal polyps was performed in the study. The two groups were evaluated using subjective (patient complaints) and objective (computed tomography scan and endoscopy scores) criteria. Preoperative data were compared with data obtained 12 months post endoscopic sinus surgery. The study included 38 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis and 52 patients of nasal polyps. The patients of nasal polyp group presented with increased severity of symptoms of nasal blockage, nasal discharge and reduced sense of smell as compared to the chronic rhinosinusitis group who had significantly higher presentation of headache and facial pain. The preoperative CT scan revealed significantly higher bilateral disease with increased involvement of multiple sinuses in nasal polyp group. Post endoscopic sinus surgery both the groups showed significant improvement in their symptoms with the nasal polyp group demonstrating reduction in improvement on 1 year follow up. In our study we have found the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyp have varied severity of symptoms with the nasal polyp group having higher nasal symptoms and increased severity as compared to chronic rhinosinusitis group. Though the universal rationale of management by adequate drainage and ventilation of sinus is similar in both groups, there is a reduction in both objective and subjective scores during 1 year follow up in the nasal polyp group.