When do doctors recommend Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Patients?

Your sinuses are air-filled chambers located on top of the skull between your eyes and over your upper jaw, and they connect to your nasal cavity on the inside.

Sinusitis is a condition that affects the mucous membrane which lines your sinuses. Symptoms of discomfort characterize it, nasal obstruction discharge, decreased sense of smell, and the sensation of mucus in the side of your nose or your throat.

The mucous membrane that lines your sinuses makes mucus which helps ensure that the air we breathe is clean. If the space between your nasal sinus and your nasal cavity becomes blocked, the mucus becomes trapped and can cause infection.

The mucous membrane gets affected, which can cause it to expand and create additional folds within your sinuses and nose. They are called Polyps (small swellings) and are usually responsible for making symptoms more severe.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Endoscopic sinus surgery with endoscopic technology is designed to widen the natural drainage channels of the sinuses to improve their health and function. When a patient suffers from chronic sinusitis, the sinuses can’t drain properly due to inflammation of narrow drainage channels. This is why nasal secretions can get stuck within the sinuses and become chronically infected.

The procedure aims to remove the delicate, thin mucous membranes and bone, which block the drainage channels that lead to the sinuses. “Endoscopic” or “endoscopic” refers to using tiny fiberoptic telescopes that permit the entire procedure to be done via the nasal passages without the need for any skin cuts.

Endoscopic sinus surgery is typically done on an outpatient basis. Reach out to the Best Hospital for ENT for treatment for sinus.

When do Doctors Recommend for Patients?

The procedure is typically reserved for patients suffering from the chronic sinusitis which persists despite crucial medication (typically antibiotics, oral steroids and topical nasal sprays, mucus-thinning medicines, and/or anti allergic treatment).

It is crucial to remember that various conditions can cause symptoms in the sinuses and nasal area. Therefore, a thorough exam should confirm diagnosing chronic rhinosinusitis, including nasal endoscopy and CT scans.

Most patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis don’t require surgery to treat sinuses, as antibiotics and other medicines can often relieve symptoms.

Since bacterial infections are one of the leading causes of chronic rhinosinusitis, initial treatment includes a long-term course in oral antimicrobials. Other medications that help reduce inflammation (primarily steroids) and decrease mucus viscosity (guaifenesin) can also be utilized. If these therapies do not bring about significant improvement or alleviation, or the symptoms persist when treatment stops, endoscopic sinus surgery should be thought of.

In rare instances, a functional endoscopic sinus surgery could be necessary for Mucocele drainage (a sinus that is blocked and full of mucus and is slowly expanding). Mucoceles generally do not cause any symptoms until they grow to a size and encroach on the brain or the eye; and therefore the need for early drainage to avoid this complication.

During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Endoscopic sinus surgery is typically done as an outpatient operation by a sinus surgery doctor, and it does not involve cutting skin because it is done entirely through the nose. The majority of patients can go home the next day.

The sinus surgeon will use an endoscope, a small camera rod that has a light at the end that magnifies and makes it easier to see that sinus tissue. Specially designed instruments allow the sinuses to open vastly by safely and efficiently getting rid of the leading causes of sinus obstruction like swelling of the mucous membrane, nasal polyps, and scar tissues.

Specialized instruments can also be utilized when needed to straighten the septum and decrease the volume of turbinates (bony structures that are inside the sinuses).

Possible Complications

Every surgical procedure comes with a certain amount of risk in terms of side effects. Before signing a consent form for this procedure, you should be aware of certain risks, and these possible complications are not expected.

Talk to your surgeon about the possibility of your particular case before deciding whether or not you want to undergo the procedure.

Bleeding:

Bleeding is a hazard of any surgery. It is typical to see small amounts of bleeding to be seen out of the nose in the following days after the surgery. The risk of major bleeding is very low and it’s extremely uncommon for a transfusion to be needed.

Eye Problems:

The sinuses are close to the walls that surround the socket of your eye. There are occasions when minor bleeding may occur in the eye socket, and it is typically seen as bruising on the surface of your eye. The condition usually improves without treatment; however, it is essential not to blow your nose.

In more severe cases, bleeding into the eye socket can be seen, but this is extremely rare. This could cause extreme inflammation of the eyes and even lead to double vision or loss of sight in rare instances. If a severe eye condition does occur, you will be examined by an eye specialist who might require further surgery. Reach out to Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for the treatment of sinus.

Spinal Fluid Leak:

The sinuses are near the bone that lies at its base in the brain. Each sinus surgery risks injury to the bones with fluid leakage from the brain to the nose or other damages. When this uncommon complication occurs, you’ll have to stay in hospital for a more extended period and might require a further procedure to stop the leakage. Infections have spread out of sinuses to spinal fluid in rare instances, causing meningitis. However, this is extremely rare.

Take Away

Endoscopic sinus surgery doesn’t create as noticeable scarring as traditional sinus surgeries. Additionally, it isn’t as expensive as conventional procedures due to less hospitalization and a shorter recovery time.