INDICATIONS, EFFECTIVENESS AND THE RESULTING COMPLICATIONS OF CALDWELL LUC PROCEDURE

The Caldwell Luc procedure was introduced in the late 19th Century and was practiced extensively in the 20th century but with the advent of Endoscopes and minimally invasive procedure, the scope for radical Caldwell Luc procedure has declined in the recent past. The present study was conducted to evaluate the indications, effectiveness and the resulting complications of Caldwell Luc procedure. The study consists of 50 cases, of which 26 (52%) were male and 24 (48%) were females. Majority of the patients were of age group of 14 to 20 years and the most common symptom was nasal obstruction. The conclusion drawn from this study is, Caldwell Luc procedure has an important role in the treatment of recurrent antrochoanal polyp, benign lesions, removal of foreign bodies and other conditions which are inaccessible through endonasal procedures. This procedure is relatively simple with minimal intra operative and post operative complications which can be managed conservatively. In the present era, where radical procedures are being replaced by minimal invasive procedure, Caldwell Luc procedure still has certain indications.