Interventional procedure overview of corticosteroid-releasing bioabsorbable stent or spacer insertion during endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

Indications and current treatment

The paranasal sinuses are air-filled cavities, located in the bony structures of the face. Small openings (ostia) connect the sinuses with the nasal space. Rhinosinusitis occurs when the mucosal lining of the paranasal sinuses becomes inflamed and infected. Typical symptoms include fever, pain and tenderness over the infected area, together with a blocked or runny nose. Acute rhinosinusitis frequently resolves spontaneously with little or no treatment, but in some cases it becomes chronic.

The symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are usually managed with a combination of analgesics, antibiotics, topical corticosteroids, and nasal irrigation. If these interventions fail, surgical procedures may be needed to enhance drainage from the sinuses and allow topic medical therapy to reach the sinus mucosa. But adhesions and scarring may develop after surgery, compromising drainage. Scarring occurs less frequently if the mucosa remains intact. Foam dressings, nasal packing and middle meatal spacers are sometimes used after surgery to try and maintain sinus patency.