Sinus Surgery Outperforms Antibiotics in Major Clinicalโ Trial
New delhi: A large-scale clinical trial has revealedโค that surgery is a more effectiveโข treatment for chronic sinus disease, also known as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), than a course of antibiotics. โCRS presents with โฃsymptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, loss of smell, facial โpain, fatigue,โ and canโฃ exacerbate breathing difficulties in conditionsโฃ like asthmaโค – frequently enough โคmimickingโฃ a prolonged cold.
The study, published in The Lancet, โfollowed โขover 500 patients across the UK. Researchers at the University of East Anglia โand University โขCollege London compared theโข outcomes of sinus surgery to those of long-term antibiotic use and a placebo group. All participants continued to utilize standard care practices, including nasal steroids and saline rinses, known toโ provide symptom relief.
Results showed a notableโค enhancement in symptoms โฃsix months โafter surgery, โwith 87% of surgicalโ patients reporting an โขenhanced quality of life.Conversely, a three-month course of low-dose antibiotics demonstrated โno significant โbenefit, showing outcomes comparable to the placeboโฃ group.
“Our findings demonstrate that surgery provides lasting symptom relief, while antibiotics showed little โฃto no impact,” explained โProfessor Carl philpott, โขlead author fromโค the University of East Anglia’s Norwich medical school. “Previously, robust trial evidence confirming the โขsuperiorityโค of surgery over medical treatment was lacking. This research represents a potential turning point for individuals suffering from chronic โsinus disease.”
Researchers assessed treatmentโข success through nasal and sinus examinations, airflow measurements, and smell tests at three and six-month intervals, โmonitoring both symptom improvementโ and potential โside effects.
Professor Philpott added that the โคstudy’s findings coudl lead to more โฃefficient treatment pathways, reducing โneedless โpatientโฃ visits and consultations, and ultimately conserving healthcare resources.