If you are dealing with chronic sinusitis, symptoms that last more than 12 weeks, or recurring infections (at least three infections in one year) it may be time to consider sinus surgery.
Healthcare providers use this surgery to treat chronic sinusitis, remove polyps from your sinuses and treat other conditions. Most people have sinus surgery because they have severe sinus problems that medication hasn't helped. Sinus surgery may involve removing infected sinus tissue, bone or polyps.
Balloon sinuplasty allows the surgeon to dilate a blocked sinus, creating open space, which allows the sinus to drain normally. The surgeon uses a flexible endoscope with a light to guide the insertion of a thin wire. The wire is then moved through the nasal passages toward the opening of the blocked sinus.
Each year about 250,000 – 300,000 people have sinus surgery performed to treat nose and sinus complaints.
Balloon sinuplasty is an alternative to traditional endoscopic sinus surgery. It's a procedure that is also done to treat chronic sinusitis. It is performed using a small balloon to expand nasal passages, open and flush blocked, inflamed sinuses to help relieve chronic sinusitis.
As with any surgery, there are risks involved with having endoscopic sinus surgery. Complications are rare and may include: Bleeding: Minor blood loss is expected during surgery, and it is usually tolerated well by patients. In rare cases, excessive bleeding may occur, requiring the surgeon to stop the surgery.
During Surgery: In most cases, you will receive general anesthesia for your surgery, which means you will be asleep for the entire procedure. However, if you have a preference for local anesthesia, please let your doctor know as this may also be an option in some cases.
The operation usually takes 1 to 2 hours. Endoscopic sinus surgery is performed through your nostrils and does not result in any facial scars or change to the outside shape of your nose. Your surgeon will use a small telescope (endoscope) to examine your nasal passages.
Orbital involvement in endoscopic sinus surgery occurs in 0.5%64 to 3% of all procedures, and represents 16% to 50% of all complications. Most common risks encountered in endoscopic sinus surgery include bleeding, infection, injury to the eye and its adnexa, cerebrospinal fluid leak, anosmia etc.
Immediate Sinus Surgery Benefits
Following a functional endoscopic surgery, patients can breathe easier and will notice significantly reduced sinusitis symptoms. A procedure involving the insertion of a tiny inflatable balloon into the sinus passages balloon sinuplasty widens nasal airways to improve breathing as well.
Other risks: Other uncommon risks of surgery include alteration of sense of smell or taste; persistence and/or worsening of sinus symptoms and facial pain; change in the resonance or quality of the voice; and swelling or bruising of the area around the eye.
You will probably be able to return to work or school in about 1 week and to your normal routine in about 3 weeks. But this varies with your job and the extent of your surgery. Most people feel normal in 1 to 2 months. You will have to visit your doctor regularly for 3 to 4 months after your surgery.
You can often go home as soon as you're stable, able to drink fluids, have pain under control, and no longer feel groggy. This is often the same day. In some cases, you may need to stay overnight.
Your nose may be sore and will bleed. You may feel "stuffed up" like you have a bad head cold. This will last for several days after surgery. The tip of your nose and your upper lip and gums may be numb.
With a 90% success rate since the 1950s, FESS surgery is a safe method to relieve chronic rhinosinusitis. However small, FESS surgery poses possible risks. For example, a chance of infection at the surgery site, bleeding, numbness or swelling.
HOSPITAL STAY: Sinus surgery in children and adults is usually done as an out-patient and does not require an overnight hospital stay. On occasion, a patient may need to stay overnight. Check with your insurance company to see if this hospitalization is covered by your policy.
Your ENT specialist may recommend a nasal/sinus irrigation to open you your nasal passages if you have allergies, sinusitis (sinus infection), or a viral URI.
These include: Aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve): Avoid for two weeks before surgery. Herbal medicines such as gingko biloba, ginseng, and garlic tablets.
Light walking and regular household activities are acceptable anytime after surgery. You may resume exercise at 50% intensity after one week and at full intensity after two weeks.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is minimally invasive surgery for serious sinus conditions.
If you have an incision under the eyebrow, keep the area dry for 5 days. You may shower, but avoid direct water contact to the area and pat the incision dry gently. Sleeping: Please sleep with the head on two elevated pillows to decrease nasal congestion and bleeding from the nose.
The good news is that there are non-surgical treatments that can be effective in treating sinusitis. However, in some cases, surgery may be necessary, especially if non-surgical options do not provide relief from your symptoms.