Comprehensive surgical management of the aerosinusitis patient.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology and surgical management strategies of sinus barotrauma with attention to recent advancements in endoscopic surgical technique.

RECENT FINDINGS: New endoscopic frontal sinus surgery techniques have been shown to be highly effective with rhinosinusitis management, but these techniques have not been evaluated with sinus barotrauma management.

SUMMARY: We discuss the surgical goals and expectations with sinus barotrauma and contrast these to those with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Sinus barotrauma surgery requires anatomic patency of involved sinuses whereas CRS patients are satisfied with a lack of symptoms from any residual mucosal disease.