Skip to main content

Abstract

Rather than a single disease, chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) should be thought of as a syndrome resulting from variety of disease processes and underlying etiologies. Accordingly there is no one single medical management for all patients. However, medical management is the cornerstone of the management of the majority of uncomplicated CRS, and surgery is largely an adjunct to the overall management of the syndrome when medical therapy does not control the disease process. Accordingly, it is important to carefully evaluate the patient for the underlying factors involved in the disease process and to tailor the medical therapy appropriately, based on both patient symptomatology and also endoscopic examination. In addition to briefly reviewing some of the underlying predisposing causes of CRS, this chapter will focus on both the potential topical and systemic managements of this disorder and present the evidence for efficacy of these therapies based upon previously published studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Dubin MG, Liu C, Lin SY, Senior BA. American Rhinologic Society member survey on ‘maximal medical therapy’ for chronic rhinosinusitis. Am J Rhinol. 2007;21:483–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brook I, Frazier ED, Foote PA. Microbiology of the transition from acute tochronic maxillary sinusitis. J Med Microbiol. 1996;45:372–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bhattacharyya N, Kepnes LJ. Assessment of trends in antimicrobial resistance in chronic rhinosinusitis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008;117(6):448–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Guss J, Abuzeid WM, Doghramji L, et al. Fluoroquinolone-resistant patterns in chronic rhinosinusitis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2004;25:323–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kingdom TT, Swain Jr RE. The microbiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns in chronic rhinosinusitis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2004;25(5):323–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Suh JD, Kennedy DW. Treatment options for chronic rhinosinusitis. Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2011;8:132–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Kudoh S, Uetake T, Hagiwara M, et al. Clinical effect of low-dose long-term erythromycin chemotherapy on diffuse panbronchiolitis. Jpn J Thorac Dis. 1987;25:632–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kanoh S, Rubin BK. Mechanisms of action and clinical application of macrolides as immunomodulatory medications. Clin Microbial Rev. 2010;23:590–615.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Harvey RJ, Wallwork BD, Lund VJ. Anti-inflammatory effects of macrolides: applications in chronic rhinosinusitis. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2009;29:689–703.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Baumann U, Fischer JJ, Gudowius P, et al. Buccal adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis under long term therapy with azithromycin. Infection. 2001;29:7–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wallwork B, Coman W, MacKay-Sim A, et al. A double-blind randomized, placebo controlled trial of macrolide in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Laryngoscope. 2006;116:189–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gross ND, McInnes RJA, Hwang PH. Outpatient intravenous antibiotics for chronic rhinosinusitis. Laryngoscope. 2002;112:1758–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Woodhouse BM, Cleveland KW. Nebulized antibiotics for the treatment of refractory bacterial chronic rhinosinusitis. Ann Pharmacother. 2011;45:798–802.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Cain RB, Lal D. Update on the management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Infect Drug Resist. 2013;6:1–14.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Jervis-Bardy J, Boase S, Psaltis A, Foreman A, Wormald PJ. A randomized trial of mupirocin sinonasal rinses versus saline in surgically recalcitrant staphylococcal chronic rhinosinusitis. Laryngoscope. 2012;122(10):2148–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lim M, Citardi MD, Jern-Lin L. Topical antimicrobials in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review. Am J Rhinol. 2008;22:381–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Whatley WS, Chandra RK, Macdonald CB. Systemic absorption of gentamicin nasal irrigation. Am J Rhinol. 2006;20:251–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Wong KK, Marglani O, Westerberg BD, Javer AR. Systemic absorption of topical gentamicin sinus irrigation. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;37:395–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Ponikau JU, Sherris DA, Kern EB, et al. The diagnosis and incidence of allergic fungal sinusitis. Mayo Clin Proc. 1999;74(9):877–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kennedy DW, Kuhn FA, Hamilos DL, et al. Treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with high-dose oral terbinafine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Laryngoscope. 2005;115:1793–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Thanasumpun T, Batra PS. Oral antifungal therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis and its subtypes: a systematic review. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2011;1(5):382–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ponikau JU, Sherris DA, Weaver A, Kita H. Treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with intranasal amphotericin B: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;115(1):125–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Liang KL, Su MC, Shiao JY, et al. Amphotericin B irrigation for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Am J Rhinol. 2008;22(1):52–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ebbens FA, Scadding GK, Badia L, et al. Amphotericin B nasal lavages: not a solution for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118(5):1149–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ebbens FA, Georgalas C, Luiten S, et al. The effect of topical amphotericin B on inflammatory markers in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: a multicenter randomized controlled study. Laryngoscope. 2009;119(2):401–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sacks 4th PL, Harvey RJ, Rimmer J, Gallagher RM, Sacks R. Antifungal therapy in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a meta-analysis. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2012;26(2):141–7.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lal D, Hwang PH. Oral corticosteroid therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis without polyposis: a systematic review. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2011;1(2):136–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Poetker DM, Jakubowski LA, Lal D, Hwang PH, Wright ED, Smith TL. Oral corticosteroids in the management of adult chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps: an evidence-based review with recommendations. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013;3(2):104–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kirtsreesakul V, Wongsritrang K, Ruttanaphol S. Clinical efficacy of a short course of systemic steroids in nasal polyposis. Rhinology. 2011;49(5):525–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Vaidyanathan S, Barnes M, Williamson P, Hopkinson P, Donnan PT, Lipworth B. Treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis with oral steroids followed by topical steroids: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154(5):293–302.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Rupa V, Jacob M, Mathews MS, Seshadri MS. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of postoperative oral steroid in allergic fungal sinusitis. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2010;267(2):233–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Landsberg R, Segev Y, DeRowe A, Landau T, Khafif A, Fliss DM. Systemic corticosteroids for allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: a comparative study. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;136(2):252–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Fokkens WJ, Lund VJ, Mullol J, et al. European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2012. Rhinol Suppl. 2012;23:1–298.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rudmik L, Hoy M, Schlosser RJ, et al. Topical therapies in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis: an evidence-based review with recommendations. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013;3(4):281–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Welch KC, Thaler ER, Doghramji LL, Palmer JN, Chiu AG. The effects of serum and urinary cortisol levels of topical intranasal irrigations with budesonide added to saline in patients with recurrent polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2010;24(1):26–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Man LX, Farhood Z, Luong A, Fakhri S, et al. The effect of intranasal fluticasone propionate irrigations on salivary cortisol, intraocular pressure, and posterior subcapsular cataracts in postsurgical chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013;3(12):953–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Jang DW, Lachanas VA, Kountakis SE. Budesonide nasal irrigations in the postoperative management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013;3(9):708–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Intersect ENT. http://www.intersectent.com/advantage-how_it_works.html. Accessed 9 Feb 2014.

  39. Han JK, Marple BF, Smith TL, et al. Effect of steroid-releasing sinus implants on postoperative medical and surgical interventions: an efficacy meta-analysis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2012;2:271–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Campbell RG, Kennedy DW. What is new and promising with drug-eluting stents in sinus surgery? Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;22(1):2–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Gutman M, Torres A, Keen KJ, Houser SM. Prevalence of allergy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:545–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Benninger MS, Ferguson BJ, Hadley JA, et al. Adult chronic rhinosinusitis: definitions, diagnosis, epidemiology, and pathophysiology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2003;129(Suppl):S1–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Rosenfeld RM, Andes D, Bhattacharyya N, et al. Clinical practice guideline: adult sinusitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137 Suppl 3:S1–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Calderon MA, Alves B, Jacobson M, Hurwitz B, Sheikh A, Durham S. Allergen injection immunotherapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(1):CD001936.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Hauptmann G, Ryan MW. The effect of saline solutions on nasal patency and mucociliary clearance in rhinosinusitis patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;137:815–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Braun JJ, Alabert JP, Michel FB, et al. Adjunct effect of loratadine in the treatment of acute sinusitis in patients with allergic rhinitis. Allergy. 1997;52:650–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Parnes SM, Chuma AV. Acute effects of antileukotrienes on sinonasal polyposis and sinusitis. Ear Nose Throat J. 2000;79(1):18–20. 24–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Kieff DA, Busaba NY. Efficacy of montelukast in the treatment of nasal polyposis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2005;114(12):941–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Stewart RA, Ram B, Hamilton G, Weiner J, Kane KJ. Monteleukast as an adjunct to oral and inhaled steroid therapy in chronic nasal polyposis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008;139(5):682–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Harvey R, Hannan SA, Badia L, Scadding G. Nasal saline irrigations for the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(3):CD006394.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Wormald P, Cain T, Oates L, et al. A comparative study of three methods of nasal irrigation. Laryngoscope. 2004;114:2224–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Singhal D, Weitzel EK, Lan E, et al. Effect of head position and surgical dissection on sinus irrigant penetration in cadavers. Laryngoscope. 2010;120:2528–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Pinto JM, Elwany S, Baroody FM, Nacierio RM. Effects of saline sprays on symptoms after endoscopic sinus surgery. Am J Rhinol. 2006;20(2):191–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Pynnonen MA, Mukerji SS, Kim HM, Adams ME, Terrell JE. Nasal saline for chronic sinonasal symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007;133(11):1115–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Rabago D, Zgierska A, Mundt M, Barrett B, Bobula J, Maberry R. Efficacy of daily hypertonic saline nasal irrigation among patients with sinusitis: a randomized controlled trial. J Fam Pract. 2002;51(12):1049–55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Hoza J, Salzman R, Starek I, Schalek P, Kellnerova R. Efficacy and safety of erdosteine in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis – a pilot study. Rhinology. 2013;51(4):323–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Rosen PL, Palmer JN, O’Malley Jr BW, Cohen NA. Surfactants in the management of rhinopathologies. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013;27(3):177–80.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Tajiri T, Matsumoto H, Hiraumi H, et al. Efficacy of omalizumab in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis patients with asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;110(5):387–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Pinto JM, Mehta N, DiTineo M, Wang J, Baroody FM, Naclerio RM. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of anti-IgE for chronic rhinosinusitis. Rhinology. 2010;48(3):318–24.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Gevaert P, Lang-Loidolt D, Lackner A, et al. Nasal IL-5 levels determine the response to anti-IL-5 treatment in patients with nasal polyps. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006;118(5):1133–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Gevaert P, Van Bruaene N, Cattaert T, et al. Mepolizumab, a humanized anti-IL-5 mAb, as a treatment option for severe nasal polyposis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011;128(5):989–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Quinti I, Soresina A, Spadaro G, et al. Long-term follow-up and outcome of a large cohort of patients with common variable immunodeficiency. J Clin Immunol. 2007;27:308–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Stevenson DD, Pleskow WW, Simon RA, et al. Aspirin-sensitive rhinosinusitis asthma: a double-blind crossover study of treatment with aspirin. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1984;73(4):500–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Rozsasi A, Polzehl D, Deutschle T, et al. Long-term treatment with aspirin desensitization: a prospective clinical trial comparing 100 and 300 mg aspirin daily. Allergy. 2008;63(9):1228–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David W. Kennedy FACS, FRCSI, MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Crosby, D.L., Kennedy, D.W. (2015). Overview of the Medical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. In: Batra, P., Han, J. (eds) Practical Medical and Surgical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16724-4_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16724-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16723-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16724-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics