Effect of passive smoking on ciliary regeneration of nasal mucosa after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in children.

Passive smoking in the paediatric age group is associated with an increased frequency of a number of childhood respiratory disorders. However, its effect on ciliary regeneration after functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis has not previously been reported. We conducted a prospective, nonrandomised cohort study on 38 paediatric patients with chronic sinusitis. We compared two patient groups--passive smokers and those not subjected to passive smoking--as regards ciliary regeneration after functional endoscopic sinus surgery, using objective methodology. We found passive smoking to have a negative impact on sinus cilia regeneration following functional endoscopic sinus surgery.