Phenotypic associations of medical polypectomy and revision surgery following endoscopic sinus surgery: a retrospective study of a single-centre experience in Scotland

BACKGROUND: Some chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps patients undergo revision surgery at some point following initial functional endoscopic sinus surgery. This review aimed to identify the predictive factors for recurrence of nasal polyps requiring oral corticosteroids or revision surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps following functional endoscopic sinus surgery. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 221 patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in a tertiary rhinology centre, between January 2015 and December 2018, was undertaken. RESULTS: Forty-four (21.6 per cent) patients underwent medical polypectomy, 19 (9 per cent) underwent revision surgery and 51 (24.3 per cent) underwent combined polypectomy during the mean follow-up time of 5.3 years. Patients aged less than 55 years of age, with a history of previous functional endoscopic sinus surgery, peripheral blood eosinophil counts of 300 cells/μl or higher, a Lund–Mackay score of more than 17 and concomitant aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease had significantly increased odds for medical polypectomy, revision surgery and combined polypectomy. CONCLUSION: Knowing these predictive factors, clinicians can better identify patients with an increased likelihood of severe polyp recurrence and therefore arrange closer follow-up to optimise therapy.