Early experience with feasibility of balloon sinus dilation in complicated pediatric acute frontal rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Complicated acute rhinosinusitis in the pediatric population is an uncommon problem that may affect the orbit or brain and is life‐threatening. This condition requires surgical intervention with endoscopic sinus surgery for source control, and prior studies have demonstrated the safety of balloon sinuplasty in chronic frontal sinusitis. METHODS/RESULTS: We present our approach with a balloon sinus dilation hybrid procedure to resolve four distinct types of complicated acute frontal sinusitis in pediatric patients, including intracranial manifestations, intraorbital complications, and recurrent disease. All four patients were able to be managed operatively with frontal balloon sinuplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Prior efficacy has been demonstrated for chronic frontal sinusitis in the pediatric population. We demonstrate that frontal balloon sinuplasty is also feasible in the proper clinical setting for acute frontal sinusitis, even in the presence of regional complications or recurrent disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4