Total intravenous anesthesia improves intraoperative visualization during surgery for high-grade chronic rhinosinusitis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Oct;8(10):1114-1122. doi: 10.1002/alr.22173. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Abstract

Background: Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) has been proposed as a method to reduce blood loss during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Impaired sinonasal visualization due to mucosal bleeding may be burdensome in cases of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with high-grade inflammatory disease, suggesting a role for TIVA in that disease subgroup.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted of adults undergoing ESS at a tertiary medical center. Patients considered for inclusion had high-grade CRS defined as either sinonasal polyposis or a preoperative Lund-Mackay score of ≥12. Subjects were randomized to receive either TIVA or inhaled anesthesia (IA) during ESS. The primary outcome measure was intraoperative visibility as rated by 3 blinded reviewers utilizing the 10-point Wormald Surgical Field Grading Scale. Secondary outcomes included operative blood loss, complications, and change in quality of life evaluated by the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22).

Results: A total of 72 patients were randomized into TIVA (n = 37) and IA (n = 35) study arms. Aggregate median (interquartile range) Wormald scores across all reviewers demonstrated a more favorable visual field with TIVA compared to IA (3.5 [2.4-3.9] vs IA 4.1[3.0-5.8], p = 0.0089). There was significantly less blood loss in the TIVA group compared to the IA group (200 mL [100-450] vs 300 mL [200-500], p = 0.046). Baseline patient characteristics were comparable between cohorts with no significant postoperative complications. No significant changes were detected between postoperative SNOT-22 scores at 3 months (p = 0.278) and at 6 months (p = 0.396) following ESS.

Conclusion: TIVA contributes to improved intraoperative visualization and decreased blood loss in patients undergoing ESS for high-grade inflammatory sinus disease.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02578862.

Keywords: Lund-Mackay; Sino-Nasal Outcome Test; chronic rhinosinusitis; endoscopic sinus surgery; intraoperative visualization; nasal polyposis; total intravenous anesthesia.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anesthesia, General / methods*
  • Anesthesia, Intravenous
  • Blood Loss, Surgical / prevention & control
  • Chronic Disease
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Endoscopy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / prevention & control*
  • Middle Aged
  • Paranasal Sinuses / pathology
  • Paranasal Sinuses / surgery
  • Quality of Life
  • Rhinitis / surgery*
  • Sinusitis / surgery*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02578862