Description
Steroid-eluting sinus stents are devices used postoperatively following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) or for treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis following ESS. These devices maintain patency of the sinus openings in the postoperative period, and/or serve as a local drug delivery vehicle. Reducing postoperative inflammation and maintaining patency of the sinuses may be important in achieving optimal sinus drainage and may impact recovery from surgery and/or reduce the need for additional surgery.

For individuals who have chronic rhinosinusitis who have undergone ESS who receive implantable steroid-eluting sinus stents, the evidence includes RCTs. Relevant outcomes are symptoms, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related morbidity. The most direct evidence relating to use of steroid-eluting nasal stents as an adjunct to ESS comes from 4 RCTs comparing steroid-eluting stents with either a non-steroid-eluting stent or medical management. The need for post-operative intervention at 30 days was reduced by 14% to 24%, translating to a number needed to treat of 4.7 or more. Three trials used blinded assessors to evaluate post-implantation sinus changes, an important strength, but the trials had potentials for bias. To most accurately evaluate the benefit from PROPEL devices it is important to ensure that the comparison group is not undertreated (i.e., receives some form of packing, intranasal steroids, and irrigation). 

For individuals who have recurrent sinonasal polyposis who have undergone endoscopic sinus surgery who receive implantable steroid-eluting sinus stents, the evidence includes RCTs. Relevant outcomes are symptoms, change in disease status, morbid events, and treatment-related morbidity. Two RCTs were identified evaluating the use of steroid-eluting nasal stents for recurrent or persistent nasal polyposis after ESS, which demonstrated improvements in polyp grade and ethmoid obstruction. Strengths of these trials included use of a sham control and adequate power for its primary outcome. However, the trials had a high risk of bias due to unblinded outcome assessment. Although avoidance of repeat ESS and oral steroids may be relevant outcomes for this indication, it would be more important if decisions about repeat ESS or other treatments were standardized and, in the trial setting, if decisions were prespecified or made by a clinician blinded to treatment group. Sinus stents may prove to have a role in nasal polyposis; however, further follow-up is needed to evaluate the durability of the results.    

Background 
Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Chronic rhinosinusitis is an inflammatory sinus condition that has a prevalence between 1% and 5% in the U.S. population.¹

Treatment
Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is typically performed on patients with chronic rhinosinusitis unresponsive to conservative treatment. The surgery is associated with high rates of improvement in up to 90% of more appropriately selected patients. However, there are no high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing functional ESS with continued medical management or alternative treatment approaches. Because of the high success rates and minimally invasive approach, these procedures have rapidly increased in frequency, with an estimated 250,000 procedures performed annually in the United States.² They can be done either in the physician’s office under local anesthesia or in the hospital setting under general anesthesia.

ESS involves the removal of small pieces of bone, polyps, and debridement of tissue within sinus cavities. There are a number of variations on the specific approach, depending on the disorders being treated and the preferences of the treating surgeon. For all procedures, there is substantial postoperative inflammation and swelling, and postoperative care is, therefore, a crucial component of ESS.

There are a number of postoperative treatment regimens, and the optimal regimen is uncertain. Options include saline irrigation, nasal packs, topical steroids, systemic steroids, topical decongestants, oral antibiotics, and/or sinus cavity débridement. Several RCTs have evaluated treatment options, but not all strategies have been rigorously evaluated.^3,4,5,6 A 2011 systematic review has evaluated the evidence for these therapies.² Reviewers concluded that the evidence was not strong for any of these treatments but that some clinical trial evidence supported improvements in outcomes. The strongest evidence supported use of nasal saline irrigation, topical nasal steroid spray, and sinus cavity débridement.

Some form of sinus packing is generally performed postoperatively. Simple dressings moistened with saline can be inserted manually following surgery. Foam dressings are polysaccharide substances that form a gel when hydrated and can be used as nasal packs for a variety of indications.⁷ Middle meatal spacers are splint-like devices that prop open the sinus cavities post-ESS but are not designed for drug delivery. There is some RCT evidence that middle meatal spacers may reduce the formation of synechiae following ESS, although the available studies have significant heterogeneity in this outcome.⁸

Sinus Stents and Implants
Implantable sinus stents and implants are another option for postoperative management following ESS. These implants are intended to stabilize the sinus openings and the turbinates, reduce edema, and/or prevent obstruction by adhesions. They can also be infused with medication delivered topically over an extended period of time, and this local delivery of medications may be superior to topical applications in the postoperative setting.

Regulatory Status
In 2011, the PROPEL^® system (Intersect ENT, Menlo Park, CA) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the premarket approval process (P100044). This device is a self-expanding, bioabsorbable, steroid-eluting stent intended for use in the ethmoid sinus. It is placed via endoscopic guidance using a plunger included with the device. Steroids (mometasone furoate) are released over an approximate duration of 30 days. The device dissolves over several weeks and therefore does not require removal. In 2012, a smaller version of the PROPEL device, the PROPEL Mini Sinus Implant, was approved for use in patients older than age 18 years following ethmoid sinus surgery to maintain patency. In 2017, the PROPEL Contour was approved through a premarket approval supplement. The PROPEL Contour sinus implant is an adaptable implant that is designed to maximize drug delivery to the frontal and maxillary sinus.

SINUVA™ Sinus Implant (Intersect ENT, Inc., Menlo Park, CA) was initially approved in 1987. In 2017, the SINUVA Sinus Implant was approved with a new dose (1350 μg mometasone furoate) under a New Drug Application (NDA 209310). The corticosteroid is released over 90 days and the bioabsorbable polymers soften over this time. The implant is removed at Day 90 or earlier using standard surgical instruments. The SINUVA™ Sinus Implant is indicated for the treatment of nasal polyps in adult patients who have had ethmoid sinus surgery.

FDA product code: OWO   

Policy
The use of implantable sinus stents and implants for postoperative treatment following endoscopic sinus surgery may be considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY when the following conditions are met:

1. Patient is > than 18 years of age; AND
2. Placement is in conjunction with planned ethmoid sinus surgery AND
3. The functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) or other primary procedure is considered medically necessary
4. Patient has one or more of the following conditions
   • polypoid disease
   • failed prior surgery and/or restenosis
   • absolute or relative contraindication to systemic steroids

All other uses of these stents and implants is investigational and/or unproven and therefore considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

Policy Guidelines
Sinus stents are defined as implantable devices specifically designed to improve patency and/or deliver local medication. These devices are inserted under endoscopic guidance and are distinguished from sinus packing and variations on packing devices routinely employed after sinus surgery.

Foam dressings, such as Sinu-Foam™, are used as nasal packs for a variety of conditions, including nosebleeds, and have also been used after endoscopic sinus surgery. They are considered different types of nasal packing.

Middle meatal spacers are related but separate devices intended to maintain sinus patency post-endoscopic sinus surgery. They are splint-like devices inserted directly rather than under endoscopic guidance and do not have the capability of delivering local medication.

Coding
Please see the Codes table for details.

Benefit Application
BlueCard^®/National Account Issues
State or federal mandates (e.g., FEP) may dictate that all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved devices, drugs, or biologics may not be considered investigational, and thus these devices may be assessed only on the basis of their medical necessity.

Rationale
Evidence reviews assess the clinical evidence to determine whether the use of technology improves the net health outcome. Broadly defined, health outcomes are the length of life, quality of life, and ability to function including benefits and harms. Every clinical condition has specific outcomes that are important to patients and managing the course of that condition. Validated outcome measures are necessary to ascertain whether a condition improves or worsens; and whether the magnitude of that change is clinically significant. The net health outcome is a balance of benefits and harms.

To assess whether the evidence is sufficient to draw conclusions about the net health outcome of technology, 2 domains are examined: the relevance, and quality and credibility. To be relevant, studies must represent one or more intended clinical use of the technology in the intended population and compare an effective and appropriate alternative at a comparable intensity. For some conditions, the alternative will be supportive care or surveillance. The quality and credibility of the evidence depend on study design and conduct, minimizing bias and confounding that can generate incorrect findings. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is preferred to assess efficacy; however, in some circumstances, nonrandomized studies may be adequate. RCTs are rarely large enough or long enough to capture less common adverse events and long-term effects. Other types of studies can be used for these purposes and to assess generalizability to broader clinical populations and settings of clinical practice.

RCTs are important in the evaluation of sinus implants as an adjunct to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) to adequately compare implantable stents with alternative treatment regimens and to minimize the effects of confounders on outcomes. Case series and trials without control groups offer little in the way of relevant evidence, because improvement in symptoms is expected after ESS and because there are multiple clinical and treatment variables that may confound outcomes.

Promotion of greater diversity and inclusion in clinical research of historically marginalized groups (e.g., people of color [African American, Asian, Black, Latino and Native American]; LGBTQIA [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual]; women; and people with disabilities [physical and invisible]) allows policy populations to be more reflective of and findings more applicable to our diverse members. While we also strive to use inclusive language related to these groups in our policies, use of gender-specific nouns (e.g., women, men, sisters, etc.) will continue when reflective of language used in publications describing study populations.

Steroid-Eluting Stents as an Adjunct to Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose
The purpose of a steroid-eluting sinus stent in patients who have chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who have (ESS) is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies.

The question addressed in this evidence review is: Does the adjunctive use of a steroid-eluting sinus stent improve the net health outcome in patients who have ESS?

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations
The population of interest is patients who have ESS for CRS.

Interventions
The therapy being considered is a bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus stent (eg, PROPEL Sinus Stent, PROPEL Mini Sinus Stent, PROPEL Contour Sinus Stent) for post-operative care following ESS.

Comparators
The most relevant comparison for sinus stents is unclear because there is no standardized optimal postoperative treatment regimen. Ideally, the “standard care” comparison group should include some form of packing, intranasal steroids, and irrigation. An important consideration in evaluating controlled trials is that the control arm may not be treated with optimal intensity, thereby leading to a bias in favor of the device. For example, a study design that compares a steroid-eluting stent with a non-steroid-eluting stent will primarily evaluate the efficacy of steroids when delivered by the device, but will not evaluate the efficacy of a stent itself. If the control group does not receive topical or oral steroids postoperatively, then this might constitute undertreatment in the control group and result in a bias favoring the treatment group. Another concern is comparison of the efficacy of a drug with the efficacy of a drug delivery system. For example, if a steroid-eluting spacer is compared with a control of saline irrigation alone, it will be difficult to separate the efficacy of the drug itself (steroids) from the drug delivery system (stent).

Outcomes
The Perioperative Sinus Endoscopy score sums the combined scores determined from middle turbinate position, middle meatal status, ethmoid cavity appearance, as well as secondary sinus blockage (frontal and sphenoid). Each category is scored from 0 – 2, with 0 being not present, 1 as partially present, and 2 being fully present. The highest total score is 16, with scores ranging from 18 – 20 when the frontal and sphenoid sinuses are also included. The higher the score, the worse the status of the nasal cavity.

Post-ESS synechiae formation, the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Questionnaire, and the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index may also be used to evaluate perioperative outcomes.

A beneficial outcome would be an improvement in symptoms.

A harmful outcome would be adverse events from the implantable stents.

The PROPEL series of sinus stents are bioabsorbable and elute steroids for 30 days. Therefore, outcomes should be assessed within 30 days.

Study Selection Criteria
Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.
• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.
• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.
• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.

Studies evaluating steroid-eluting sinus stents not approved for use in the U.S. were excluded.
Review of Evidence
The literature consists of randomized trials, single-arm case series, and systematic reviews of these studies. The following is a summary of the key findings to date.

Systematic Reviews
A 2015 Cochrane review addressed steroid-eluting sinus stents for improving CRS symptoms in individuals undergoing ESS.⁹ Study eligibility criteria were RCTs that compared the effects of steroid-eluting sinus stents with non-steroid-eluting sinus stents, nasal packing, or no treatment in adults with CRS who underwent ESS. After an initial search, 21 RCTs were identified, including the RCTs reported by Murr et al (2011)¹⁰ and Marple et al. (2012)¹¹ (described above). None of the trials met authors’ inclusion criteria. Reviewers concluded that there was no evidence from high-quality RCTs to demonstrate the benefits of steroid-eluting stents.

Randomized Controlled Trials
RCTs are shown in Tables 1 and 2. There are 4 RCTs of the PROPEL, PROPELMini, and PROPEL Contour steroid-eluting sinus stents, all sponsored by the device manufacturer (Intersect ENT). These trials used an intrapatient control design, with each patient receiving a drug-eluting stent on 1 side and a non-drug-eluting stent or medical treatment on the other via random assignment.

The 2 trials of PROPEL for the ethmoid sinus had similar designs.^10,11 Both compared an implant that is steroid-eluting with an identical non-steroid-eluting implant. Thus these trials tested the value of drug delivery via a stent but did not test the value of a stent itself versus treatment without a stent. The primary efficacy outcome in Murr et al. (2011) was degree of inflammation rated by the treating physician.¹⁰ In Marple et al. (2012) the primary outcome was reduction in the need for postoperative interventions at day 30 postprocedure.¹¹ A panel of 3 independent experts, blinded to treatment assignment and clinical information, viewed the endoscopic results and determined whether an intervention was indicated. The need for postoperative intervention by expert judgment was found in 33.3% of patients in the steroid-eluting arm and in 46.9% in the non-steroid-eluting arm (p = 0.028). The reduction in interventions was primarily driven by a 52% reduction in lysis of adhesions (p = 0.005). The primary safety hypothesis was met because there were no cases of clinically significant increases in ocular pressure recorded over the 90-day period postprocedure.

The RCTs by Smith et al. (2016) and Luong et al. (2017), implanted either a PROPEL Mini Sinus Implant or a PROPEL Contour Sinus Implant in the frontal sinus with a control of surgery alone on the contralateral side.^12,13 The primary outcome was the need for post-operative intervention (e.g., surgery or steroids) determined by an independent blinded physician. Both trials showed a reduction in the need for additional surgical intervention by approximately 22%, with no adverse effects of treatment. The number needed to treat was 4.7 to prevent 1 patient from undergoing postoperative intervention.¹³ No stent-related adverse events were noted.

Table 1. Summary of Key RCT Characteristics

ADVANCE II: a prospective, randomized study assessing safety and efficacy of bioabsorbable steroid-releasing sinus implants; CRS: chronic rhinosinusitis; RCT: randomized controlled trial.

Table 2. Summary of Key RCT Results

CI: confidence interval; Diff: difference; NNT: number needed to treat; NR: not reported; RCT: randomized controlled trial; SOC: standard of care; VAS: visual analog scale.

Limitations in relevance and in design and conduct are shown in Tables 3 and 4. The primary limitations for the studies by Murr et al. (2011) and Marple et al. (2012) on the PROPEL implant in the ethmoid sinus was whether the comparator had received the optimal treatment in terms of packing, intranasal steroids, and irrigation. For the studies by Smith et al. (2016) and Luong et al. (2017), there was a high percentage of patients who were not able to be evaluated due to video quality.

Table 3. Study Relevance Limitations

The study limitations stated in this table are those notable in the current review; this is not a comprehensive gaps assessment.
^a Population key: 1. Intended use population unclear; 2. Clinical context is unclear; 3. Study population is unclear; 4. Study population not representative of intended use.
^b Intervention key: 1. Not clearly defined; 2. Version used unclear; 3. Delivery not similar intensity as comparator; 4. the intervention of interest.
^c Comparator key: 1. Not clearly defined; 2. Not standard or optimal; 3. Delivery not similar intensity as intervention; 4. Not delivered effectively.
^d Outcomes key: 1. Key health outcomes not addressed; 2. Physiologic measures, not validated surrogates; 3. No CONSORT reporting of harms; 4. Not establish and validated measurements; 5. Clinical significant difference not prespecified; 6. Clinical significant difference not supported.
^e Follow-Up key: 1. Not sufficient duration for benefit; 2. Not sufficient duration for harms.

Table 4. Study Design and Conduct Limitations

The study limitations stated in this table are those notable in the current review; this is not a comprehensive gaps assessment.
^a Allocation key: 1. Participants not randomly allocated; 2. Allocation not concealed; 3. Allocation concealment unclear; 4. Inadequate control for selection bias.
^b Blinding key: 1. Not blinded to treatment assignment; 2. Not blinded outcome assessment; 3. Outcome assessed by treating physician.
^c Selective Reporting key: 1. Not registered; 2. Evidence of selective reporting; 3. Evidence of selective publication.
^d Data Completeness key: 1. High loss to follow-up or missing data; 2. Inadequate handling of missing data; 3. High number of crossovers; 4. Inadequate handling of crossovers; 5. Inappropriate exclusions; 6. Not intent to treat analysis (per protocol for noninferiority trials).
^e Power key: 1. Power calculations not reported; 2. Power not calculated for primary outcome; 3. Power not based on clinically important difference.
^f Statistical key: 1. Analysis is not appropriate for outcome type: (a) continuous; (b) binary; (c) time to event; 2. Analysis is not appropriate for multiple observations per patient; 3. Confidence intervals and/or p-values not reported; 4. Comparative treatment effects not calculated.

Nonrandomized Comparative Studies
The largest nonrandomized study identified was reported by Xu et al. (2016).¹⁴ It evaluated post-ESS synechiae formation among 146 patients (252 nasal cavities) treated with a steroid-eluting absorbable spacer and 128 patients (233 nasal cavities) treated with a nonabsorbable spacer. Eligible patients included those who underwent ESS (at minimum, maxillary antrostomy, and anterior ethmoidectomy) for CRS with or without nasal polyps and were treated with a sinus spacer. Rates of synechiae formation at 1 month postoperatively did not differ significantly between groups (5 [2.0%] nasal cavities in the absorbable stent group vs. 13 [5.6%] nasal cavities in the nonabsorbable spacer group).

Section Summary: Steroid-Eluting Stents as an Adjunct to Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
The most direct evidence relating to use of steroid-eluting nasal stents as an adjunct to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) comes from 4 RCTs comparing steroid-eluting stents with either a non-steroid-eluting stent or medical management. The need for post-operative intervention at 30 days was reduced by 14% to 24%, translating to a number needed to treat of 4.7 or more. Three trials used blinded assessors to evaluate postimplantation sinus changes, an important strength, but the trials had potentials for bias. To most accurately evaluate the benefit from PROPEL devices it is important to ensure that the comparison group is not undertreated (i.e., receives some form of packing, intranasal steroids, and irrigation).

Steroid-Eluting Implants for Recurrent Polyposis
Clinical Context and Therapy Purpose
The purpose of steroid-eluting implants in patients who have recurrent polyposis is to provide a treatment option that is an alternative to or an improvement on existing therapies.

The question addressed in this evidence review is: Does the use of steroid-eluting implants improve the net health outcome in patients with recurrent polyposis?

The following PICO was used to select literature to inform this review.

Populations
The relevant population of interest is patients with recurrent polyposis after ESS.

Interventions
The therapy being considered is a steroid-eluting sinus implant (e.g., SINUVA).

This implant is bioresorbable and softens over time, but needs to be removed by 90 days.

Comparators
A sham treatment may be used to determine whether active treatment reduces the need for ESS.

Outcomes
The general outcomes of interest are symptoms, anatomic outcomes, and need for additional ESS. These outcomes may be measured by the nasal obstruction/congestion score change (scale 0 – 3), polyp grade change (scale 0 to 8), ethmoid sinus obstruction change (scale 0 – 100), and the percentage of patients still indicated for repeat sinus surgery.

A beneficial outcome would be an improvement in symptoms and reduction in repeat ESS.

A harmful outcome would be adverse events from the implant.

The steroid-eluting implants are kept in place for up to 90 days. Relevant outcomes would be measured at 90 days to evaluate the short-term effects of the treatment and at 1 or 2 years to evaluate the durability of this treatment.

Study Selection Criteria
Methodologically credible studies were selected using the following principles:

• To assess efficacy outcomes, comparative controlled prospective trials were sought, with a preference for RCTs.
• In the absence of such trials, comparative observational studies were sought, with a preference for prospective studies.
• To assess long-term outcomes and adverse events, single-arm studies that capture longer periods of follow-up and/or larger populations were sought.
• Studies with duplicative or overlapping populations were excluded.
• Studies evaluating steroid-eluting sinus stents not approved for use in the U.S. were excluded.

Review of Evidence
Two sham-controlled RCTs, RESOLVE (A Randomized, Controlled, Blinded Study of Bioabsorbable Steroid-eluting Sinus Implants for In-office Treatment of Recurrent Sinonasal Polyposis) and RESOLVE II (A Phase 3 Trial of Mometasone Furoate Sinus Implants for Chronic Sinusitis with Recurrent Nasal Polyps) with a total of 400 patients have addressed outcomes after placement of steroid-eluting absorbable sinus stents in the office setting due to recurrent or persistent nasal polyposis after ESS (see Tables 5 and 6).^15,16,17

In RESOLVE, for endoscopically measured outcomes, at 90 days of follow-up, the treatment group had a greater reduction in polyp grade than the control group (-1.0 vs. -0.1; p = 0.016) and a greater reduction in percent ethmoid obstruction on a 100-mm VAS (-21.5 mm vs. 1.3 mm; p = 0.001), both respectively. For patient-reported outcomes, there were no significant differences in change in nasal obstruction/congestion scores between groups. Six-month outcomes from RESOLVE were reported by Forwith et al. in 2016. Differences in polyp grade and ethmoid obstruction scores remained significantly improved in the intervention group at 6 months, but the difference between groups in patient-reported symptom scores was not statistically significant at 6 months (See Table 6).¹⁷ In RESOLVE II the implant group showed significant reductions in nasal congestion, polyp grade, and ethmoid obstruction at 90 days compared to sham controls. Out of 200 patients treated with the implant, 39% were indicated for sinus surgery at 3 months compared to 63.3% of controls (p < 0.001).

Table 5. Summary of Key RCT Characteristics

RESOLVE: a randomized, controlled, blinded study of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus implants for in-office treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis; RESOLVE II: a phase 3 trial of mometasone furoate sinus implants for chronic sinusitis with recurrent nasal polyps; ESS: endoscopic sinus surgery; RCT: randomized controlled trial.

Table 6. Summary of Key RCT Results

RESOLVE: a randomized, controlled, blinded study of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus implants for in-office treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis; RESOLVE II: a phase 3 trial of mometasone furoate sinus implants for chronic sinusitis with recurrent nasal polyps; CI: confidence interval; Diff: difference; NR: not reported; OR: odds ratio; RCT: randomized controlled trial; SD: standard deviation.

Limitations in relevance, design, and conduct are shown in Tables 7 and 8. A major limitation of RESOLVE II was the short duration of follow-up to determine the durability of the treatment. In addition, there is a potential for bias since outcomes were evaluated by the treating physician.

Table 7. Study Relevance Limitations

RESOLVE: a randomized, controlled, blinded study of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus implants for in-office treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis; RESOLVE II: a phase 3 trial of mometasone furoate sinus implants for chronic sinusitis with recurrent nasal polyps.
The study limitations stated in this table are those notable in the current review; this is not a comprehensive gaps assessment.
^a Population key: 1. Intended use population unclear; 2. Clinical context is unclear; 3. Study population is unclear; 4. Study population not representative of intended use.
^b Intervention key: 1. Not clearly defined; 2. Version used unclear; 3. Delivery not similar intensity as comparator; 4. the intervention of interest.
^c Comparator key: 1. Not clearly defined; 2. Not standard or optimal; 3. Delivery not similar intensity as intervention; 4. Not delivered effectively.
^d Outcomes key: 1. Key health outcomes not addressed; 2. Physiologic measures, not validated surrogates; 3. No CONSORT reporting of harms; 4. Not establish and validated measurements; 5. Clinical significant difference not prespecified; 6. Clinical significant difference not supported.
^e Follow-Up key: 1. Not sufficient duration for benefit; 2. Not sufficient duration for harms.

Table 8. Study Design and Conduct Limitations

RESOLVE: a randomized, controlled, blinded study of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus implants for in-office treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis; RESOLVE II: a phase 3 trial of mometasone furoate sinus implants for chronic sinusitis with recurrent nasal polyps.
The study limitations stated in this table are those notable in the current review; this is not a comprehensive gaps assessment.
^a Allocation key: 1. Participants not randomly allocated; 2. Allocation not concealed; 3. Allocation concealment unclear; 4. Inadequate control for selection bias.
^b Blinding key: 1. Not blinded to treatment assignment; 2. Not blinded outcome assessment; 3. Outcome assessed by treating physician.
^c Selective Reporting key: 1. Not registered; 2. Evidence of selective reporting; 3. Evidence of selective publication.
^d Data Completeness key: 1. High loss to follow-up or missing data; 2. Inadequate handling of missing data; 3. High number of crossovers; 4. Inadequate handling of crossovers; 5. Inappropriate exclusions; 6. Not intent to treat analysis (per protocol for noninferiority trials).
^e Power key: 1. Power calculations not reported; 2. Power not calculated for primary outcome; 3. Power not based on clinically important difference.
^f Statistical key: 1. Analysis is not appropriate for outcome type: (a) continuous; (b) binary; (c) time to event; 2. Analysis is not appropriate for multiple observations per patient; 3. Confidence intervals and/or p values not reported; 4. Comparative treatment effects not calculated.

Section Summary: Steroid-Eluting Stents for Recurrent Polyposis
Two RCTs evaluated the use of steroid-eluting nasal implants for recurrent or persistent nasal polyposis after ESS, which demonstrated improvements in polyp grade and ethmoid obstruction. Strengths of the trials included use of sham control and adequate power for the primary outcome. However, the trials had a high risk of bias due to unblinded outcome assessment. Although avoidance of repeat ESS and oral steroids may be relevant outcomes for this indication, it would be more important if decisions about repeat ESS or other treatments were standardized and, in the trial setting, if decisions were prespecified or made by a clinician blinded to treatment group.

The purpose of the following information is to provide reference material. Inclusion does not imply endorsement or alignment with the evidence review conclusions.

Practice Guidelines and Position Statements
Guidelines or position statements will be considered for inclusion in Supplemental Information if they were issued by, or jointly by, a U.S. professional society, an international society with U.S. representation, or National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Priority will be given to guidelines that are informed by a systematic review, include strength of evidence ratings, and include a description of management of conflict of interest.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology
In 2021, the International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology was updated and included the following recommendation:

"Corticosteroid-eluting implants can be considered as an option in a previously operated ethmoid cavity with recurrent nasal polyposis."¹⁸

The recommendation noted, "Corticosteroid eluting implants have been shown to have beneficial impact on ethmoid polyposis and obstruction, and 1 study has shown them to be cost-effective in preventing revision ESS. Experience is early and although evidence is high level, only short-term outcomes are currently available."

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations
Not applicable

Ongoing and Unpublished Clinical Trials
Some currently unpublished trials that might influence this review are listed in Table 9.

Table 9. Summary of Key Trials

NCT: national clinical trial.
^a Denotes industry-sponsored or cosponsored trial.

References 

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11. Marple BF, Smith TL, Han JK, et al. Advance II: a prospective, randomized study assessing safety and efficacy of bioabsorbable steroid-releasing sinus implants. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Jun 2012; 146(6): 1004-11. PMID 22301107
12. Smith TL, Singh A, Luong A, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a bioabsorbable steroid-releasing implant in the frontal sinus opening. Laryngoscope. Dec 2016; 126(12): 2659-2664. PMID 27363723
13. Luong A, Ow RA, Singh A, et al. Safety and Effectiveness of a Bioabsorbable Steroid-Releasing Implant for the Paranasal Sinus Ostia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Jan 2018; 144(1): 28-35. PMID 29098299
14. Xu JJ, Busato GM, McKnight C, et al. Absorbable Steroid-Impregnated Spacer After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery to Reduce Synechiae Formation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. Mar 2016; 125(3): 195-8. PMID 26391092
15. Han JK, Forwith KD, Smith TL, et al. RESOLVE: a randomized, controlled, blinded study of bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus implants for in-office treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. Nov 2014; 4(11): 861-70. PMID 25266981
16. Kern RC, Stolovitzky JP, Silvers SL, et al. A phase 3 trial of mometasone furoate sinus implants for chronic sinusitis with recurrent nasal polyps. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. Apr 2018; 8(4): 471-481. PMID 29350840
17. Forwith KD, Han JK, Stolovitzky JP, et al. RESOLVE: bioabsorbable steroid-eluting sinus implants for in-office treatment of recurrent sinonasal polyposis after sinus surgery: 6-month outcomes from a randomized, controlled, blinded study. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. Jun 2016; 6(6): 573-81. PMID 26992115
18. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Position Statement: Drug-Eluting Sinus Implants. January 17, 2023; https://www.entnet.org/resource/position-statement-eluting-implants/. Accessed January 2, 2024.
19. American Rhinologic Society. ARS Position Statement: Criteria for Drug-Eluting Implants. January 28, 2023; https://www.entnet.org/resource/position-statement-eluting-implants/. Accessed January 2, 2024.
20. Orlandi RR, Kingdom TT, Smith TL, et al. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: rhinosinusitis 2021. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. Mar 2021; 11(3): 213-739. PMID 33236525

Coding Section 

Procedure and diagnosis codes on Medical Policy documents are included only as a general reference tool for each policy. They may not be all-inclusive. 

This medical policy was developed through consideration of peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, U.S. FDA approval status, nationally accepted standards of medical practice and accepted standards of medical practice in this community, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association technology assessment program (TEC) and other nonaffiliated technology evaluation centers, reference to federal regulations, other plan medical policies, and accredited national guidelines.

"Current Procedural Terminology © American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved" 

History From 2024 Forward     

08/28/2024 Annual review, no change to policy intent. Updating table #9 and references

01012024  NEW POLICY