Endoscopic Surgical Techniques in Sinus Pathologies
Summary
Endoscopic surgical approaches have transformed the management of sinus disorders by enabling direct visualisation and precise removal of obstructive or diseased tissue via the nasal cavity. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery employs rigid nasal endoscopes alongside powered instrumentation to restore normal ventilation and mucociliary clearance of the paranasal sinuses. Techniques range from uncinectomy and middle meatal antrostomy for maxillary sinus access to advanced frontal recess surgery and sphenoidotomy, often supplemented by image-guided navigation. These methods reduce tissue trauma, preserve mucosa, expedite recovery and lower complication rates compared with traditional external approaches. Global adoption has been driven by improvements in endoscope optics, miniaturised shavers and intraoperative imaging, yielding consistent symptom relief in chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyposis and select neoplastic lesions. Continuous technical refinements now support tailored interventions in paediatric, revision and skull-base procedures, underscoring the expanding clinical reach and safety profile of endoscopic techniques in sinonasal pathology.
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Endoscopic Surgical Techniques in Sinus Pathologies publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in endoscopic surgical techniques in sinus pathologies across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS): Minimally invasive procedure using nasal endoscopes to restore sinus ventilation and drainage by removing obstructive tissue and opening sinus ostia.
Ethmoidectomy: Surgical removal of disease-laden ethmoid air cells between the nasal cavity and orbit to clear obstruction and reduce infection risk.
Antrostomy: Creation or enlargement of an opening in the maxillary sinus wall to facilitate drainage and access for instrumentation.
Ostiomeatal complex: Key anatomical region in the lateral nasal wall where the frontal, maxillary and anterior ethmoid sinuses drain into the middle meatus.
Microdebrider: Powered rotary instrument with integrated suction used to precisely resect soft tissue or bony partitions under endoscopic guidance.
References
- Sinonasal anatomical findings associated with revision functional endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis. The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology (2024).
- Anatomical Measurement as a Reference for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Based on CT Scans and Dissections. International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (2024).
- Gender differences in ethmoid sinus morphology_ 3D reconstruction of computed tomographic images. BMC Medical Imaging (2024).
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