Trends in the Use of Stents and Drug-Eluting Stents in Sinus Surgery.

Stenting has long been used in the paranasal sinuses with the goals of maintaining a patent sinus cavity during the postoperative healing process and preventing restenosis from inflammation or scarring. More recently, drug-eluting stents have been introduced. Steroid-impregnated dressings and implants appear to be safe, although likely have increased systemic absorption compared with topical nasal steroid sprays and rinses. There is evidence to support the use of steroid-releasing implants in the ethmoid cavity in the postoperative period; however, more study is needed to truly define the role of these implants.