Nasal and paranasal sinus surgery in children with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (mucoviscidosis; fibrocystic disease of the pancreas) is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder that results in generalized dysfunction of exocrine glands. Chronic pansinusitis with nasal polyposis occurs frequently in this disease. Polypectomy and sinus drainage procedures are often required in those cases refractory to medical therapy. Recurrence of nasal polyps following removal is common. Controversy exists regarding the timing and extent of surgery. The management of 40 children with cystic fibrosis who underwent nasal polypectomy, intranasal ethmoidectomy, and Caldwell-Luc procedures to treat extensive sinusitis and nasal polyposis forms the basis for this report. Follow-up data indicate that fewer recurrences and longer symptom-free intervals result when intranasal ethmoidectomy and Caldwell-Luc procedures are combined with polypectomy.