Comparing Efficacy of Steroid Irrigation + Steroid-eluting Sinus Stent Versus Steroid Irrigation Alone for Maintaining Frontal Sinus Patency After Sinus Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Steroid rinses and steroid-eluting stents are both options for preventing postoperative stenosis after frontal sinus surgery. This study aimed to assess whether steroid-eluting stents offer added benefit over steroid rinses alone in postoperative healing and long-term frontal sinus patency.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial enrolled patients with CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) who underwent surgery for bilateral and equal frontal sinusitis after failing prior medical therapy. Each patient served as their own control, with each patient randomized to stent placement in either right or left frontal sinuses. Exclusion criteria included unequal frontal sinusitis, aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease, cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and immunocompromise. All patients used steroid rinses postoperatively. Scarring, edema, patency, and the need for additional treatments were assessed at 1, 3, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results: Sixty-two patients were enrolled. Postoperatively, scarring, edema, patency, and the need for further treatment were similar in both groups at 24 weeks (p = 0.878, 0.688, 0.817, 1.00, and 1.00, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis identified time as an independent risk factor for scarring (OR = 1.32, [1.03‒1.71]) and patency (OR = 1.39, [1.10‒1.82]), while it was an independent protective factor for edema (OR = 0.40, [0.32‒0.49]). The steroid-eluting stent did not significantly affect this.

Conclusion: For CRSwNP, with or without asthma, without other underlying systemic disease factors, steroid-eluting stents may not add benefit over steroid rinses in reducing postoperative scarring and edema, improving long-term frontal sinus patency, or reducing the need for additional treatments, as long as patients continue topical therapy and know how to rinse effectively.