Outcome of endoscopic sinus surgery in children with allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a morbid condition in children with chronic rhinosinusitis. The study goal was to determine whether children with AR who are undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) will have a poor outcome. METHODS The study population consisted of 141 patients who underwent ESS between January 1994 and December 2002. The outcome of ESS was measured at least 1 year after the operation. RESULTS The overall success rate was 80%. Children with an allergy had 77% success rate compared with children with no allergy who had an 84% success rate (p = 0.25). Children with AR who were on treatment before surgery had an 84% success rate compared with 62% for those children with AR but were not treated (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION ESS in children with AR does not have a poorer outcome. Treatment of the allergy before surgery may improve the success of ESS.