BACKGROUND: KARTAGENER SYNDROME (KS) IS A RARE CONGENITAL DISEASE CHARACTERISED 
BY A CLINICAL TRIAD OF SYMPTOMS: situs inversus, chronic rhinosinusitis, and 
bronchiectasis. Although congenital ciliary defect is recognised as the main 
cause of this syndrome, it remains difficult to treat the associated airway 
infection.
CASE REPORT: A 17-year-old female patient presented with repeated refractory 
airway infection. She also had bronchiectasis and situs inversus. Electron 
microscopic evaluation of her nasal mucosa revealed ciliary defect and confirmed 
the diagnosis of KS. She underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) 
followed by long-term postoperative debridement of the sinonasal cavity. This 
treatment reduced chronic rhinosinusitis and protected against subsequent airway 
infection in a 7-year follow-up.
CONCLUSION: FESS is effective for relieving both chronic rhinosinusitis and lung 
infection of KS in the long term.