The safety and efficacy of spray cryotherapy after endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a condition that affects 5–12% of the general population. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is the preferred treatment because of its few adverse effects. The most common post-operative consequences include synechia, nasal blockage, and disease recurrence. Spray cryotherapy is a novel therapeutic approach with promising outcomes for the treatment of upper airway disorders. This review aimed to investigate the effects of spray cryotherapy (SCT) following ESS in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods Six electronic databases were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The selected trials were evaluated for methodological quality, and data were extracted by two independent reviewers. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to assess the quality of evidence. Results Three RCTs with 85 patients were included in the final analysis. SCT was related to -16 and -77 reductions in Lund-McKay and SNOT-22 scores after 36 weeks of follow-up, in contrast to a placebo, which showed -10.4, -65. Regarding the side effects of SCT, no adverse effects were reported, and visual assessments showed no pain, visual field loss, or any other ocular complications. Conclusions SCT is a new treatment modality after endoscopic sinus surgery that shows an effective post-operative management strategy with better post-operative scales (Lund-McKay, SNOT-22, POSE, and Lund-Kennedy) and less edema, obstruction, crusting, and inflammation with minimal or no side effects. However, further research with longer follow-ups, a larger sample size, and subjective assessment is needed to assess any possible long-term side effects.