Surgical treatment of pediatric rhinosinusitis.

Pediatric rhinosinusitis is a common sequela of upper respiratory infections in children. It is usually a self-limited disease, sometimes requiring antibiotic therapy. Surgery may be indicated in children who suffer complication of acute rhinosinusitis, severe recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, rhinosinusitis in cystic fibrosis with or without polyposis, chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to maximal medical management, allergic fungal sinusitis, and paranasal sinus mucoceles. Surgical options include, adenoidectomy, sinus puncture and lavage, open surgical approaches, endoscopic sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty, and turbinectomy or turbinate reduction. This paper reviews the anatomy and physiology of rhinosinusitis in children and current knowledge of the indications and best methods of surgical treatment.