Although the theory, indications, and technique of endoscopic sinus surgery have been well described, the results are only recently becoming apparent. Despite practicing classic sinus surgery for over 20 years, the senior author is now nearly exclusively utilizing the endoscopic approach. A retrospective study on the first 100 patients operated on utilizing the endoscopic approach was performed in order to review the transition period from classic sinus surgery to endoscopic sinus surgery. Trends noted included diminished blood loss, shorter hospitalization, and diminished use of an external procedure. Early results and complications are also reviewed.
A series of 1,000 consecutive intranasal ethmoidectomies performed on 565 patients was reviewed. There were 28 complications (2.8%) in 26 patients. No patient died, and none became blind. This experience suggests that, in experienced hands, intranasal ethmoidectomy for polypoid disease and chronic ethmoid sinusitis can be a safe operation.
Berzelius failed to make use of Faraday's electrochemical laws in his laborious determination of equivalent weights.