Meta-analysis of outcomes of pediatric functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Abstract

To create a consensus of outcomes of pediatric functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and assess its effectiveness and safety. A meta-analysis of the literature on outcomes of pediatric FESS. A meta-analysis of the literature was performed focusing on the number of patients per study, length of follow-up, prospective versus retrospective, and the separation or exclusion of patients with significant underlying systemic diseases (cystic fibrosis and immunodeficiencies). A rating scale based on the above criteria was used to select articles for inclusion. Eight published articles (832 patients) plus unpublished data from the authors' institution (50 patients) were included. The "positive" outcome rates for published, unpublished, and combined data were 88.4%, 92%, and 88.7%, respectively. No statistically significant differences in "positive" outcome existed between all published or unpublished series using a chi-squared test (power = .51, P = .38). The average combined follow-up was 3.7 years, with a major complication rate of 0.6%. Pediatric FESS is a safe and effective treatment for chronic sinusitis that is refractory to medical therapy.