Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a condition that causes long-lasting inflammation and swelling in the nose and sinuses and may lead to nasal blockage, nasal discharge, facial pressure, and reduced sense of smell. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is a surgical treatment used when medical treatment has not adequately controlled the condition. Bleeding during FESS can make it difficult for the surgeon to see and operate safely. This randomized controlled trial will compare FESS performed with and without preoperative intranasal desmopressin in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive 20 micrograms of intranasal desmopressin 30-60 minutes before surgery, while the control group will undergo FESS without preoperative desmopressin. The study will assess intraoperative blood loss, quality of the surgical field, operative time, surgeon satisfaction, and perioperative complications. The study will include patients undergoing elective FESS at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Services Hospital, Lahore. The purpose of this study is to determine whether preoperative intranasal desmopressin can reduce bleeding and improve the surgical field during FESS. The findings may provide local evidence to help inform perioperative management of patients undergoing FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

The prevalence of Chronic Sinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) in the United States is estimated at roughly 4%, which equates to over 13 million Americans. Until recently, the only medical treatment options available for patients with CRSwNP were corticosteroids, with surgery reserved for medical failure. The development of biologic medications over the last 5 years has revolutionized the treatment of CRSwNP. Three biologic medications have been FDA approved and available for the treatment of CRSwNP: dupilumab, omalizumab, and mepolizumab. However, data from the clinical trials for these drugs do not show universal improvement across all patients with CRSwNP. In fact, there is a wide range of outcomes for patients in these trials. The result is that clinicians have no way of knowing which specific biologic would be the best option for any given patient, nor do they know whether biomarkers can be used to predict response to biologics. It is hoped that findings from this study will inform whether any one biologic has superior outcomes to another and whether clinicians can identify patients at baseline who are most likely to improve on biologic therapy.

1. Information for Patients and Families What is this study about? When patients undergo functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), strong pain relievers called opioids are traditionally used during anesthesia. While effective, opioids can sometimes cause unwanted side effects such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or prolonged recovery times. This study investigates an "Opioid-Free Anesthesia" (OFA) approach combined with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols. ERAS is a modern, science-based care pathway designed to help patients recover faster and more comfortably after surgery. Why is this study important? The goal of this study is to see if skipping opioids during sinus surgery-and using alternative pain-management techniques instead-leads to better perioperative outcomes. We want to find out if patients experience less pain, fewer side effects (like nausea), and a quicker, safer return to their daily routines. What will happen if you participate? If you fit the criteria and agree to join, your surgical journey will follow the standard ERAS protocol, but your anesthesia will be managed without conventional opioid medications. Researchers will closely monitor your comfort, pain levels, and recovery speed before, during, and after your sinus surgery. 2. Technical Summary for Health Care Providers Official Study Title: Opioid-Free Anesthesia in Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Effects on Perioperative Outcomes - A Prospective Observational ERAS Study Study Rationale and Objective: Traditional opioid-based anesthesia is often associated with opioid-induced side effects (OIAEs) such as postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), respiratory depression, and delayed discharge. This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the clinical impact of Opioid-Free Anesthesia (OFA) embedded within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathway for patients undergoing elective Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS). The primary focus is to assess whether an OFA-ERAS strategy optimizes perioperative outcomes, stabilizes intraoperative hemodynamics, and minimizes recovery times compared to historical opioid-based standards. Study Design: Prospective, Observational Study. Estimated Enrollment: 104 patients. Setting: Perioperative tracking following strict institutional ERAS principles.

This double-blind, randomized controlled trial (BEE-SONIC) aims to evaluate the efficacy of bee venom phonophoresis in the treatment of chronic sinusitis. Thirty adult patients (aged 18-65 years) with clinically diagnosed chronic or acute sinusitis will be randomized into two groups: the intervention group will receive bee venom phonophoresis using low-to-moderate intensity ultrasound, while the control group will receive standard care consisting of oral decongestants and saline nasal irrigation. Primary outcomes include improvement in symptom severity (SNOT-22, Visual Analog Scale) and quality of life (SF-33). Secondary outcomes include reduction in facial pain, nasal congestion, and patient satisfaction. Data will be collected at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention, and analyzed using paired t-tests and ANOVA. The study has received ethics approval from Sinai University's Human Research Ethics Committee, and informed consent will be obtained from all participants.