Sinusitis Surgery

Why do I need sinus surgery?

Sinusitis surgery is a standard treatment method when all other methods for sinusitis have failed.  Chronic sinusitis patients are the most common recipients of sinus surgery as well as those patients requiring polyp removal.  Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses caused by a blockage in the sinus cavity that stem from the presence of foreign debris in the sinus passages.  A sinusitis infection is recognized by the blockage which causes inflammation or swelling of the lining in the sinus passages and cavities.  Blocked sinuses are very uncomfortable as pressure builds in the swollen sinus cavities.  There are various methods used to treat a sinusitis infection and experience symptom relief.  Treatments that result in drainage will produce symptom relief as well as alleviate the blockage and severe congestion.  “Drainage is the act or process of drawing off fluids from a cavity or wound by means of suction or gravity.”  When physicians have failed in eradicating the sinusitis infection, sinus surgery will often be recommended.  Sinus surgery is painful and only clears out a portion of the sinus infection.  Patients who have had previous sinus surgeries also known as a functional endoscopy Sinus Surgery (FESS) typically require future sinus surgeries.  

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery

FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) is the keystone surgical treatment for sinusitis and nasal polyps.  Fess is typically performed under local or general anesthesia, and lasts approximately two hours as an inpatient procedure.  In traditional sinus surgery, an opening is made into the sinus.  “The openings may be made from the inside of the mouth or through the skin of the face.”  Fess is a newer surgical procedure that typically utilizes a nasal endoscope to clear and enlarge the maxillary ostium by removing the obstructing tissue or swollen mucous membranes and polyps.  Patients may be prescribed an oral antibiotic prior to surgery prophylactically or to address a current sinus infection.  At least four persons are involved in the actual procedure.  The ENT Surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and two nurses.  Patients are advised to stop taking any aspirin or advil prior to surgery.  The goal of sinus surgery is to remove the tissue that is blocking the sinus and to increase drainage. The surgeon’s purpose during a FESS is to remove any diseased tissue obstructing the sinuses and causing infection.  At the same time, the surgeon seeks to avoid removing  normal healthy tissue.  Recovery time depends on the amount of tissue removed.  During the FESS a surgeon may utilize a video camera and the eyepiece of the endoscope.  In addition, lasers and microdebriders may be utilized to remove tissue.  Lasers cause more swelling but also result in a bloodless removal of swollen tissue.

Postoperative FESS is a sinusitis surgery that entails packing in the nose with gauze to absorb the blood and drainage.  Patients are traditionally told to change packing several times a day or they are instructed to leave packing in place for a few days.  In addition, patients are instructed to avoid any strenuous physical activities especially blowing the nose and bending over for a few days.  Patients are encouraged to utilize a humidifier to keep room air moist especially in the bedroom as well as utilize a saltwater nasal wash or a “lavage” to keep the sinuses moist.  Surgical treatment for sinusitis should only be considered when all other conservative methods, such as home treatment and medications have failed. Sinus surgery has some considerable risks, such as:  heavy bleeding, leakage of fluids that surround the brain and spinal cord, inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain, blindness and death.  Although endoscopic surgery is widely performed, extreme care is required due to the close proximity of the paranasal sinuses to the brain and internal carotid arteries. 

An acute sinusitis is the most common classification experienced with approximately 90% of adults experiencing sinusitis at some point in their life.  There are many conditions that contribute to the onset of a sinusitis infection such as the common cold, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps as well as a deviated septum.

·         Physicians prescribe an oral antibiotic to treat sinusitis.   Recurrent sinusitis infections are common with the use of oral antibiotics due to the scant amount of blood vessels that are thus unable to deliver an effective dose to the site of infection.  The sinus cavities blood vessels which are swollen and infected providing all the treatment to the sinusitis infection results in an ineffective method for treating this area of the body.   In short, it is difficult to effectively treat any sinusitis infection with oral antibiotics. 
 

The treatment options available for a sinusitis infection include over the counter decongestants, antihistamines, expectorants, and nasal sprays. 

•          Antihistamines clear up excess mucus from allergic reactions that often trigger sinusitis infection such as Benadryl, Claritin or Sudafed. 

•          Analgesics typically are mild over the counter anti-inflammatories that are often taken in combination with antibiotics, decongestants and antihistamines to provide symptom relief for sinusitis.

•          Sinus irrigators are used to cleanse the sinuses for optimum sinus and respiratory health, but can also assist with symptom reduction of sinus inflammation when a blockage is present in the sinus cavity.

•          A nasal spray is a treatment method obtained over the counter or prescribed by a physician but due to the design of the nasal spray bottle, a nasal spray emits a large particle size that cannot fit into the tiny sinus openings.
  

Sinus Dynamics offers the most innovative treatment for sinusitis infection currently on the market with custom compounded antibiotics, anti-fungals, and anti-inflammatories that are delivered directly into the sinus cavities with a state of the art nebulizer that produces a pressurized aerosolized mist.  Sinus Dynamics nebulizer emits a fine medicated mist with 3.2-micron particle size that can rapidly enter the inflamed sinus cavities, depositing medication and making contact with the infection directly. The aerosolized medicated mist is sent up into nasal passages reaching the actual site of the sinusitis infection, fighting the infection on contact.  Sinus Dynamics treatment approach is painless and effective in treating chronic sinusitis.  Sinus Dynamics’ topical approach to treating sinusitis is particularly effective as medications that are topically applied result in little to no side effects and ensure a low systemic absorption rate as well as reaching the site of infection unlike the other treatment methods prescribed.  Call Sinus Dynamics (877) 447-4276 to begin a sinus therapy that is highly effective, easy to use, and safe with a 98% success rate in the treatment of patients who are suffering with sinusitis.  

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• Sinusitis Infection (24)
• Sinusitis Symptoms and Effects (47)
• Sinusitis Treatment (26)

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