[Complications of endoscopic sinus surgery].

Endoscopic sinus surgery has become popular during recent years. Here is a report of complications of endoscopic sinus surgery among 150 patients. Seven patients had complications, including one nasolacrimal duct injury, one temporary blindness, one orbital hematoma as a result of trauma to the lamina papyracea, two orbital infections, one CSF leakage and one death probably due to laceration of the internal carotid artery. The complication rate was 4.6%, and the mortality rate 0.6%. We conclude that the knowledge of anatomy, good training, and meticulous surgical technique are very important, and that endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with extensive lesions should be handled with care, especially in patients with bleeding or bone destruction involving the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus and skull base.