Extended medial maxillary antrostomy

A subset of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis have difficult-to-treat or recalcitrant maxillary sinus disease. For these patients, standard maxillary sinusotomy techniques may not be adequate to allow the drainage of sinus contents or allow the application of topical medication to reduce severity of disease. Herein, we describe an extended maxillary antrostomy technique that creates a wide opening in the maxillary sinus and carries the opening inferiorly to the level of the nasal floor allowing for drainage of the maxillary sinus without necessitating mucociliary clearance to counteract gravitational forces necessary with typical maxillary opening techniques. This technique allows for in-office debridement of the maxillary sinus and gravity-independent application of topical medications and rinses.