Background

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a minimally invasive technique that uses an endoscope to improve ventilation and drainage in addition to polyp removal. The extent of surgery varies according to the extent of disease and surgeon's individual practice. This technique has been used for more than a decade in treating sino-nasal conditions. Advantages are claimed over conventional surgery: permitting a better view of the surgical field, a more precise and thorough clearance of the inflammatory change, fewer complications and lower recurrence rates.

Nasal polyp growths are round, soft, semi-translucent, pale or yellow glistening structures that originate from any part of the nasal mucosa or paranasal sinuses (although most commonly from the ethmoid or middle meatus regions). Polyp development has been linked to chronic inflammation, allergy, autonomic nervous system dysfunction and genetic predisposition.

It has been estimated that 0.2-1% of adults in the UK will have nasal polyps at some time during their life. The English Department of Health report that 12,312 patients were admitted to hospital with a primary diagnosis of nasal polyps from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. The frequency of polyps increases with age until 59 years and polyps are more frequent in males than females. Nasal polyps are associated with many different disease states and it is rare to find them alone.

Objectives

To provide a systematic review of the clinical effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for the removal of nasal polyps.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken. Searches of electronic databases, websites and reference lists were made to identify relevant studies. Comparative studies were included if they were primary research, focused on FESS for the removal of nasal polyps, reported patient relevant outcomes and were published in English. In addition, case series studies were included if they met the above criteria and enrolled more than 50 patients with polyps.

The titles and abstracts of studies, and then full text articles, were screened independently by two reviewers for inclusion. Using a structured form, the quality (internal and external validity) of the included studies was assessed by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer.

Owing to the lack of homogeneous randomised controlled trials (RCTs) we have not performed meta-analysis. We have, however, provided comparative data where available. The assessment includes all patient-relevant outcome measures reported by the studies.

Results

Thirty-three studies were included, three RCTs, three non-RCTs and 27 case series studies. The RCTs and controlled trials reported overall symptomatic improvement that ranged from 78 to 88% for FESS compared with 43 to 84% for comparative techniques (including polypectomy, Caldwell-Luc and intranasal ethmoidectomy). Disease recurrence was 8% for FESS compared with 14% for Caldwell-Luc and polyp recurrence was 28% for endoscopic ethmoidectomy compared with 35% for polypectomy. Revision surgery was reported in one study only and was the same for FESS and Caldwell-Luc procedures. Percentage of overall complications was reported in only one comparative study and was 1.4% for FESS compared with 0.8% for conventional procedures.

The case series studies reported overall symptomatic improvement for patients with nasal polyps ranging from 37 to 99% (median 89%). For the mixed patient groups (with and without polypoid disease) overall symptomatic improvement ranged from 40 to 98% (median 88%). Total complications in the case series studies ranged from 22.4 to 0.3% (median 6%).

Conclusions

We have identified large amounts of data on FESS. The majority of studies report that people's symptoms improve following FESS with relatively few complications; however, only a small proportion of evidence is comparative. Results from non-comparative studies do not inform the choices that need to be made by ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons and commissioners. Health economics data are also lacking and therefore cannot inform these decisions.

FESS may offer some advantages in effectiveness over comparator techniques, but there is enormous variation in the range of results reported and there are severe methodological limitations. There is a clear need for quality-controlled trials in order to answer questions regarding the effectiveness of FESS. We have identified and presented a number of priority research questions from a selection of ENT surgeons within the UK.

Publication

• Dalziel K, Stein K, Round A, Garside R, Royle P. Systematic review of endoscopic sinus surgery for nasal polyps. Health Technol Assess 2003;7(17) [PubMed: 12969541]

NHS R&D HTA Programme

The NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme was set up in 1993 to ensure that high-quality research information on the costs, effectiveness and broader impact of health technologies is produced in the most efficient way for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS.

The research reported in this monograph was commissioned by the HTA Programme and funded as project number 01/34/01. Technology assessment reports are completed in a limited time to inform decisions in key areas by bringing together evidence on the use of the technology concerned.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the HTA Programme or the Department of Health. The editors wish to emphasise that funding and publication of this research by the NHS should not be taken as implicit support for any recommendations made by the authors.

Criteria for inclusion in the HTA monograph series

Reports are published in the HTA monograph series if (1) they have resulted from work commissioned for the HTA Programme, and (2) they are of a sufficiently high scientific quality as assessed by the referees and editors.

Reviews in Health Technology Assessment are termed 'systematic' when the account of the search, appraisal and synthesis methods (to minimise biases and random errors) would, in theory, permit the replication of the review by others. HTA Programme Director: Professor Kent Woods

Series Editors: Professor Andrew Stevens, Dr Ken Stein, Professor John Gabbay, Dr Ruairidh Milne, Dr Chris Hyde and Dr Rob Riemsma

Managing Editors: Sally Bailey and Sarah Llewellyn Lloyd

The editors and publisher have tried to ensure the accuracy of this report but do not accept liability for damages or losses arising from material published in this report.