FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY IN DIVERS WITH RECURRENT SINUS BARO- TRAUMA

Advances in endoscopic technology combined with computerised tomography have dramatically changed our understanding of sinus disease. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) significantly enlarges the maxillary sinus ostia, the drainage pathways from the frontal sinuses and removes obstructed or diseased ethmoid cells. If necessary, the ostia of the sphenoid sinuses can also be enlarged. FESS techniques have treated successfully aviators with recurrent sinus barotrauma. Divers who suffer from recurrent sinus barotrauma should also benefit from these techniques. This paper documents early FESS experience with two divers suffering from recurrent sinus barotrauma.