Abstract
Introduction: Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is widely used for chronic rhinosinusitis and other sinonasal disorders. This study evaluated the clinico-epidemiological profile and complications of patients undergoing FESS at a tertiary hospital in Nepal.
Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital, from July 2025 to March 2026. Adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing elective functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis and related sinonasal diseases were enrolled using total enumeration with consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a structured proforma. Data were analyzed using PSPP 2.1.1 and summarized using descriptive statistics. Ethical approval was obtained from Institutional Review Committee of Birat Medical College Teaching Hospital (IRC-37-2081/82).
Results: A total of 60 patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The mean age was 37.83 ± 5.91 years, and 55.00% were male. Chronic rhinosinusitis was the most common diagnosis (38.33%), followed by chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (35.00%) and allergic fungal sinusitis (26.67%). Allergies (68.33%) and deviated nasal septum (51.67%) were the most common comorbidity and anatomical variation, respectively. Chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to medical therapy was the leading indication for FESS (53.33%). Unilateral surgery was performed in 66.67% of patients, with a mean operative duration of 150.08 ± 31.57 minutes. Immediate postoperative pain occurred in all patients, and all demonstrated symptomatic improvement during the 1–4-week follow-up.
Conclusions: FESS was mainly performed for chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis, with favorable short-term outcomes. Despite common minor postoperative pain, all patients showed symptomatic improvement during follow-up.
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