Decrease of nasal airway resistance and alleviations of symptoms after balloon sinuplasty in patients with isolated chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, randomised clinical study.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the clinical outcome of balloon sinuplasty and uncinectomy for patients suffering from isolated chronic rhinosinusitis of the maxillary sinus.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomised, non-blinded, controlled trial was conducted.

SETTING

The study was carried out at the Department of Otolaryngology, Tampere University Hospital, Finland.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients with symptomatic isolated chronic or recurrent rhinosinusitis without severe findings in the sinuses, as documented in the sinus' Computer Tomography scan and clinical examination, were randomised into two groups: uncinectomy and balloon sinuplasty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The variables in our study are the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT 22), acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry. These parameters were analysed preoperatively and postoperatively (after 3 and 6 months).

RESULTS

The preliminary results of our study have been previously published. Both balloon sinuplasty and uncinectomy significantly improved almost all the parameters of SNOT22 (P < 0.05), with no significant difference being found between these two groups (P > 0.05). Based on rhinomanometry results, airway resistance decreased after treatment. Regarding adverse effects, balloon sinuplasty was significantly associated with a lesser risk of synechia.

CONCLUSIONS

Both balloon sinuplasty and uncinectomy improved the quality of life and decreased upper airway resistance of patients with mild, isolated chronic or recurrent rhinosinusitis. The smaller risk of postoperative synechiae with balloon sinuplasty combined with its promising efficiency could partially compensate for its high material cost.