For chronic maxillary sinusitis, the most popular surgical approach for treatment is endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). After these operations, however, it is not clear how well the surgery restores the normal mucociliary function.

We examined the mucociliary clearance (MCC) in maxillary sinuses in chronic sinusitis before ESS and 6 months after the operation. Correlation of histology to MCC was also studied. Measurement of the mean mucociliary clearance (MCC) of maxillary sinuses pre- and postoperatively with an isotope method was used. Biopsies taken during ESS and 6 months postoperatively were studied by EM (electron microscopy).

Preoperative residual MCC from the maxillary sinus was 77%. EM showed loss of cells and cilia, ciliary disorientation and, goblet cells. Six months postoperatively, residual MCC was 70%, only slightly better than the MCC preoperatively. Postoperatively, EM revealed still many histological findings similar to those seen preoperatively.

Mucociliary function in maxillary sinusitis remains poor even 6 months postoperatively, with many pathological findings still visible in the sinus epithelium. MCC correlates well with the histology of the mucosa. Surgery restores only slowly the normal mucociliary function in the maxillary sinusitis.