Surgical intervention for chronic rhinosinusitis

Published January 2020 | Last reviewed September 2024

The guidance set out here was reviewed extensively in the Autumn of 2024. There are no plans for any further reviews.

Medicine is constantly evolving and over time it is inevitable that the evidence base will change. Please use your own judgement and/or other sources of clinical guidance alongside the information set out here.

Please note this guidance is a recommendation and it should be used in the context of the overall care pathway and when all alternative interventions that may be available locally have been undertaken.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is defined as inflammation (swelling) of the nasal sinuses that lasts longer than 12 weeks. The sinuses are mucus secreting, air filled cavities in the face and head that drain into the nose; their normal function may be disrupted by environmental, infectious or inflammatory conditions which damage the epithelial lining and disturb the balance of the natural microbial community. Patients report a number of symptoms including nasal blockage, discharge, alteration to smell, and facial pressure or pain. They often have a relapsing course, with recurrence after treatment commonplace. Absenteeism and presenteeism are widespread.

It is a common chronic condition that affects approximately 11% of adults and has a significant detrimental effect on the quality of life of those affected, thus creating a significant disease burden.

CRS as a term encompasses a wide range of phenotypes but can broadly be divided into two main types. Chronic rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (CRSwNP) and Chronic Rhinosinusitis without Nasal Polyposis (CRSsNP). First-line treatment is with appropriate medical therapy, which should include intranasal steroids and nasal saline irrigation. In the case of CRSwNP a trial of a short course of oral steroids should also be considered.

Where first-line medical treatment has failed patients should be referred for diagnostic confirmation and they then may be considered for endoscopic sinus surgery. This involves surgery using a telescope via the nasal cavity to open the sinuses and, if present, remove nasal polyps, both improving the effectiveness of ongoing medical therapy and relieving obstruction. The surgery is usually undertaken under general anaesthetic as a day-case procedure in otherwise healthy individuals.

This guidance applies to adults and children.

Patients are eligible to be referred for specialist secondary care assessment in any of the following circumstances:

• A clinical diagnosis of CRS has been made (as set out in RCS/ENT-UK Commissioning guidance) in primary care and patient still has moderate / severe symptoms after a 3-month trial of intranasal steroids and nasal saline irrigation.

AND

• In addition, for patients with bilateral nasal polyps there has been no improvement in symptoms 4 weeks after a trial of 5-10 days of oral steroids (0.5mg/kg to a max of 60 mg)

OR

• Patient has nasal symptoms with an unclear diagnosis in primary care

OR

• Any patient with unilateral symptoms or clinical findings, orbital, or neurological features should be referred urgently / via 2-week wait depending on local pathways.

No investigations, apart from clinical assessment, should take place in primary care or be a pre-requisite for referral to secondary care (e.g. X-ray, CT scan). There is no role for prolonged courses of antibiotics in primary care. Patients can be considered for endoscopic sinus surgery when the following criteria are met:

• A diagnosis of CRS has been confirmed from clinical history and nasal endoscopy and / or CT scan

AND

• Disease-specific symptom patient reported outcome measure confirms moderate to severe symptoms e.g. Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) after trial of appropriate medical therapy (including counselling on technique and compliance) as outlined in RCS/ENT-UK commissioning guidance ‘Recommended secondary care pathway’.

AND

• Pre-operative CT sinus scan has been performed and confirms presence of CRS. Note: a CT sinus scan does not necessarily need to be repeated if performed sooner in the patient’s pathway.

AND

• Patient and clinician have undertaken appropriate shared decision nmaking consultation regarding undergoing surgery including discussion of risks and benefits of surgical intervention.

OR

• In patients with recurrent acute sinusitis, nasal examination is likely to be relatively normal. Ideally, the diagnosis should be confirmed during an acute attack if possible, by nasal endoscopy and/or a CT sinus scan.

There are a number of medical conditions whereby endoscopic sinus surgery may be required outside the above criteria and in these cases they should not be subjected to the above criteria and continue to be routinely funded:

• Any suspected or confirmed neoplasia
• Emergency presentations with complications of sinusitis (e.g. orbital abscess, subdural or intracranial abscess)
• Patients with immunodeficiency
• Fungal Sinusitis
• Patients with conditions such as Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, Cystic Fibrosis or NSAID-Eosinophilic Respiratory Disease (NSAID-ERD, Samter’sTriad Aspirin Sensitivity, Asthma, CRS)
• Treatment with topical and / or oral steroids contra-indicated.
• As part of surgical access or dissection to treat non-sinus disease (e.g. pituitary surgery, orbital decompression for eye disease, nasolacrimal surgery).

There is a strong evidence base and expert consensus opinion to support the medical management of chronic rhinosinusitis with intranasal steroids and nasal saline irrigation as a first-line treatment. They are low cost and low risk, with newer generations of nasal steroids safe for long-term use owing to minimal systemic absorption.

There is also evidence to support the trial of oral steroids, but only when nasal polyposis is present. The benefits of oral steroids should be balanced against the risks when considering repeated courses. A Cochrane review has demonstrated the benefits of oral steroids can last up to three months; however the risks and side effects must be balanced against benefit for the patient with repeated courses.

There is evidence to support that when endoscopic sinus surgery is performed in appropriately selected patients (as outlined in the recommendation), it will lead to a significant and durable improvement in symptoms. There is also evidence that patients who undergo surgery early in their disease course will have a longer and more beneficial impact from the surgery. All national and international guidelines support consideration of endoscopic sinus surgery once appropriate medical therapy has failed.

It is important to note that there is currently a UK multidisciplinary randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing medical therapy with surgery in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis (MACRO Trial: https://www.themacroprogramme.org.uk). The outcome of this trial may lead to modification of guidance for sinus surgery in due course.

Endoscopic sinus surgery is generally safe and low risk. Risks include bleeding, infection, scar tissue formation, and very rarely, orbital injury or cerebrospinal fluid leak (with associated risk of meningitis). Patients should be counselled that there is a risk of recurrent symptoms and that ongoing medical treatment is normally required to maintain symptom improvement after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Information for Patients

Surgery (an operation) to relieve the symptoms of chronic sinusitis (also known as chronic rhinosinusitis) is only appropriate for very few people. Medical evidence tells us that, for most people, alternative treatments are more effective. In those few people who really need surgery, an operation using a small telescope in the nasal (nose) cavity to open the sinuses may improve their symptoms.

About the condition

The nasal sinuses are air-filled spaces in the face and head. They produce mucous that drains into the nose. Chronic sinusitis is swelling of the nasal sinuses that lasts for longer than 12 weeks. It is a common condition that affects about one in ten adults. Symptoms include a blocked nose, discharge from the nose, changes to the sense of smell and pressure or pain in your face.

Blockage in the sinuses can be caused by infections, inflammation or allergies.

What are the BENEFITS of the operation?

For a small number of people, surgery to the sinuses will improve their symptoms.

What are the RISKS?

There is a risk that the operation will not improve your symptoms and you will still need to take treatments (medical therapy). The risks of this type of endoscopic (telescope) operation include bleeding, infection, scar tissue formation, injury around the eye and, very rarely, a risk of meningitis.

What are the ALTERNATIVES?

Medical treatments are effective for most people. These include nasal washes with salt water, nasal steroid sprays and possibly a course of oral steroids. You can discuss these alternatives with your doctor or pharmacist so you can decide what is best for you.

What if you do NOTHING?

You will avoid an operation and the risks the operation carries. It is likely that your symptoms will continue if you do nothing.

1. Royal College of Surgeons (2016) Commissioning Guide: Chronic Rhinosinusitis.
2. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary – Sinusitis
3. Hastan D, Fokkens WJ, Bachert C, et al. Chronic rhinosinusitis in europe- an underestimated disease. A GA(2)LEN study. Allergy. 2011;66(9):1216-1223. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2011.02646.x [doi].
4. Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Hwang PH, et al. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Rhinosinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2016;6 Suppl 1:22. doi: 10.1002/alr.21695 [doi].
5. Fokkens WJ, Lund VJ, Mullol J, et al. EPOS 2012: European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2012. A summary for otorhinolaryngologists. Rhinology. 2012;50(1):1-12. doi: 10.4193/Rhino50E2 [doi].