Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Systematic review
Participants
Adult and pediatric CF patients who underwent surgical therapy.
Interventions
Surgical treatment included primarily endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)
Outcome measures
Outcome measures included sinonasal symptoms (14/24), endoscopic findings (8/24), pulmonary function testing (8/24), recurrence or revision surgery (5/24), hospitalization (4/24), need for antibiotic therapy (2/24), radiographic findings (2/24), and pulmonary exacerbations (1/24).
Main results
The level-of-evidence was predominantly Level 4 (21/24); there were no Level 1 evidence studies. Most studies found improvement in symptom measures and endoscopic findings but no improvement in lower airway function after surgical therapy. Postoperative measures of the other outcomes were inconclusive or inconsistent.
Authors' conclusions
For adult and pediatric CF sinusitis, ESS yielded clinical improvement as measured primarily by sinonasal symptoms and endoscopic findings. It is unclear if surgical intervention modifies lower airway disease. Future prospective studies with predetermined, objective, and validated outcome measures are needed to determine the effectiveness of surgical intervention for CF-related CRS. Overall evidence Grade B/C.