Full vs limited FESS tested in CRSwNP
Investigators compare full and limited surgery across patient-reported and clinical outcomes over 24 months.
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By
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Kathryn Wighton
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August 19, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Full vs limited FESS tested in CRSwNP
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) |
| Key Mechanisms | Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) techniques aimed at improving disease-specific health-related quality of life. |
| Target Population | Patients aged 18 to 65 years with severe, uncontrolled CRSwNP despite medical therapy. |
| Care Setting | Tertiary care centers |
Key Highlights
- Both full and limited FESS showed clinically meaningful improvements in quality of life over 24 months.
- The difference in improvement between full and limited FESS did not reach the minimal clinically important difference.
- Full FESS resulted in greater recovery from anosmia compared to limited FESS.
- Nasal polyp scores decreased more significantly following full FESS.
- The study highlighted the need for longer follow-up to assess treatment outcomes.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Patients should have a SNOT-22 score of at least 30 and a bilateral nasal polyp score of at least 4.
Management
- Consider full FESS for better control of inflammation and olfactory function.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Regular follow-up every 3 months is recommended to assess disease control and treatment needs.
Risks
- Patients may require revision surgery or biologic therapy if disease control is lost.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Moderate to severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic CRSwNP patients requiring surgery.
Both surgical approaches led to a decrease in oral corticosteroid courses during follow-up.
Clinical Best Practices
- Utilize SNOT-22 scores for assessing quality of life in CRSwNP patients.
- Consider patient-specific factors when choosing between full and limited FESS.
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