Basic Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS): Performing a Safe ESS and Minimizing Potential Complications

Over the past two decades, there has been a major shift in the concept of managing chronic sinus disease. Dr. Stammberger and Dr. Kennedy were the pioneers in advancing the notion of moving away from major open sinus surgery toward the minimalistic endoscopic approaches targeting the opening of the natural sinus ostium of the diseased sinus. FESS is now accepted as the standard approach for the surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyposis. This could not have been possible without the advancement in radiologic evaluation with the evolution of a high-resolution CT scan of the sinuses that allowed the detailed anatomical study of the sinuses as well as all of their variations. This has paved the way for executing and planning detailed surgery of the sinus. As such, otolaryngologist acquired the knowledge and training to understand and be able to read the CT scans of their patient before embarking on any surgical procedures.