Endonasal Sinus Surgery Improves Mucociliary Transport in Severe Chronic Sinusitis

A total of 22 patients with extensive chronic sinusitis were examined before and 7.2 ± 1.1 months after microscopic endonasal sinus surgery. Pre- and postoperative nasal mucociliary transport was measured using a modified saccharine test and ciliary beat frequency of nasal respiratory cells using video interference contrast microscopy. In patients suffering from chronic sinusitis, nasal ciliary beat frequency was significantly lower (8.0 ± 1.8 Hz) than in normals (9.5 ± 1.7 Hz, p < 0.02). Following endonasal sinus surgery, ciliary beat frequency in patients with chronic sinusitis remained reduced (8.3 ± 1.2 Hz). Nasal mucociliary transport time was significantly (p < 0.05) longer (20…