Background The aim of this study was to report objective and subjective outcomes after revision sinus surgery (RESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in 125 patients requiring revision functional endoscopic sinus surgery after failing both maximum medical therapy and prior sinus surgery for CRS. Patients were seen and treated over a 3-year period (1999–2001) in a tertiary rhinology setting. Computed tomography (CT) scans were graded as per Lund-MacKay and patient symptom scores were recorded using the Sinonasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) instrument. Individual rhinosinusitis symptoms were evaluated on a visual analog scale (0–10) before and after surgery. All patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up. Results The mean number of prior sinus procedures was 1.9 ± 0.1 (range, 1–7) and the mean preoperative CT grade was 13.4 ± 0.7. Patients with asthma and polyposis had higher CT scores than those without these processes. Preoperative mean SNOT-20 and endoscopy scores were 30.7 ± 1.3 and 7.3 ± 0.4, respectively. At the 2-year follow-up, mean SNOT-20 and endoscopy scores improved to 7.7 ± 0.6 and 2.1 ± 0.4, respectively (p < 2.8 X 10-10). At 12-month follow-up, each individual symptom score decreased significantly. Overall, 10 patients failed RESS and required additional surgical intervention for an overall failure rate of 8.0%. All patients who failed RESS had nasal polyposis. Conclusion Revision functional endoscopic sinus surgery benefits patients that fail maximum medical therapy and prior sinus surgery for CRS by objective and subjective measures.
