MUCOCILIARY CLEARANCE OF THE MAXILLARY SINUS AFTER FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

The mucociliary clearance of the maxillary sinus mucosa was studied before and 6-18 months after functional sinus surgery using Tc-99m-SC in 34 sinuses of 22 patients with chronic inflammation of the ethmoid and maxillary sinus. Before operation the mucociliary transport was very slow and sometimes absent. In the postoperative interval between 6 and 18 months we saw a significant return of the mucosal function. In 56% of the sinuses investigated the postoperative clearance rate was within the normal range. We also recorded a similar trend in allergic patients, although there was not such a clear return to normal of the mucociliary clearance, and the rates were not within the normal range. We found no recovery of the mucociliary function in 11 sinuses of 7 patients with impaired healing. Decisions on subsequent treatment were based on postoperative nasal endoscopy and functional mucosal repair.