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Functional Endonasal Sinus Surgery in the Pediatric Age Group

by admin on September 30, 2011

About Dr. Rande Lazar

Dr. Rande Lazar is the founder of Otolaryngology Consultants, an ear, nose and throat practice located in Memphis, TN. He is an experienced Memphis-based Otolaryngologist and surgeon who specializes in pediatric ear infections, throat infections, tonsil infections, sinus infections and sleep disorders. Dr. Lazar also treats children’s larynx (voice box) and hearing disorders. Along with these, Dr. Rande Lazar also has many years of experience in pediatric and adult sleep and snoring disorders, respiratory disorders, and a vast range of other head and neck problems.

Article Abstract:

Sinusitis is commonly seen in pediatrics. It is a dynamic, multifactorial process whose symptoms are variable. Upper respiratory tract infections and allergy are the major predisposing causes of sinusitis. Most patients respond to medical treatment. Surgery is generally indicated when optimal conservative management fails.

Functional endonasal sinus surgery (FESS) using endoscopes can form the mainstay of surgical therapy for pediatric patients with chronic/recurrent sinusitis. It is a surgical approach that can potentially restore the physiologic function of the paranasal sinuses. Although it was only introduced 5 years ago by Kennedy, it is becoming a popular surgical treatment for sinus disease in the United States. Most past reports have addressed its use in the adult population.

In children, we believe that FESS may be a curative and safe procedure. Gross et al. were the first to report on its use in the pediatric age group. They reported their experience with a series of 57 patients. The diagnosis of sinusitis in children may be difficult. The child is frequently unable to communicate many of the characteristic symptoms of sinusitis. Additionally, radiographic findings may be confusing. Ostensibly normal children may have abnormal findings on plain radiographs.

With the introduction of a wide variety of chemotherapeutic agents and new technologies, our therapeutic choices have become very broad. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate decisions can be made when a thorough understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanism of the disease entity is known.

Read the full article as a PDF here: Functional Endonasal Sinus Surgery in the Pediatric Age Group

Dr. Rande Lazar is the founder of the Memphis-based pediatric ear, nose and throat practice, Otolaryngology Consultants.

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