Objective:
To test whether the use of fluticasone dipropionate nasal spray after endoscopic ethmoidectomy for multiple polyps is associated with a high incidence of infection.
Design:
Randomized control study comparing the incidence of infection with the use of beclomethasone dipropionate or fluticasone propionate nasal spray after functional endoscopic sphenoethmoidectomy. Patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months.
Patients and Methods:
Sixty patients with recurrent bilateral nasal polyps underwent functional endoscopic sphenoethmoidectomy and were then randomly allocated into 2 groups of 30 patients each. One group received beclomethasone dipropionate spray (100 μg in each nostril every 12 hours), and the other group received fluticasone propionate spray (100 μg/d in each nostril).
Results:
In the fluticasone propionate group, 6 patients (20%) developed acute gram-positive pansinusitis requiring hospitalization and discontinuation of treatment.
Conclusion:
The use of fluticasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray for the postoperative control of recurrent nasal polyps seems to be associated with a high incidence of acute pansinusitis.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1996;122:729-731