Modified Lothrop procedure in cystic fibrosis patients: does it have a role?

BACKGROUND

The management of frontal sinus disease in cystic fibrosis patients represents a challenge for many surgeons. Procedures can vary from the minimally invasive to those involving extensive open surgery.

OBJECTIVE

This study describes the outcomes of the endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure, in terms of safety and morbidity, for cystic fibrosis patients with frontal sinus disease who did not improve following traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

METHOD AND

RESULTS

The study setting was a tertiary referral unit in a London teaching hospital, the largest national base for adult cystic fibrosis patients. Two patients diagnosed in childhood with cystic fibrosis presented with histories of recurrent, severe frontal sinusitis; both had previously undergone multiple endoscopic sinus surgical procedures. The modified Lothrop procedure was performed on both patients. The outcome measures were symptom resolution and post-operative complications.

CONCLUSION

The endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure was beneficial in the cystic fibrosis patients with frontal sinus disease who failed to respond to standard functional endoscopic sinus surgery procedures.