Evaluation of middle meatal stenting after minimally invasive sinus techniques (MIST).

Abstract

In this study, we compared postoperative synechia rates and morbidity for different middle meatal (MM) stents after minimally invasive sinus techniques (MIST). In a prospective study, we included 100 patients with bilateral chronic sinusitis undergoing MIST at a tertiary care facility with a single surgeon. For all patients, MeroGel stents were placed in the right MM, Gelfilm stents were placed in the left MM. Follow-up consisted of 3 postoperative visits between weeks 1 and 12 with endoscopic evaluation for synechia, granulation tissue, stent retention, nasal obstruction, headache, and infection. Synechia developed in 4 patients on the left and in none on the right (P = 0.04). There were no significant side-specific differences regarding postoperative nasal congestion, headache, or sinusitis. Mean stent retention time was 7.9 days for MeroGel and 5.6 days for Gelfilm (P = 0.0004). Compared with Gelfilm, Merogel MM stents produced less synechia; Merogel retains its position in the MM longer than Gelfilm; and the incidence of postoperative MM synechia can be reduced when absorbable MM stents are used in conjunction with MIST.