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Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is one of the most commonly performed procedures in otolaryngology. Major complications are estimated to occur in 1–3% of cases, based on early studies with relatively small patient cohorts in academic institutions. The aim of this study was to update data regarding major complication rates associated with ESS by analyzing a large patient database.

Retrospective review of a nationwide database of patients who underwent ESS between 2003 and 2007. Major postoperative complications—cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, orbital injury, and hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion—were identified by searching the database for related International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD‐9) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Complication rates were examined and time to occurrence analyzed. Two‐tailed test of proportions, global chi …