Endoscopic Sinus Surgery – All You Need to Know

What is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery & Why is it Performed?

Endoscopic sinus surgery is a surgical procedure intended to remove the blockage of the natural drainage pathways of the sinuses to repair their function & health.
In chronic sinusitis, sinuses are incapable to drain well due to soreness & swelling of the narrow drainage path. As a result, nose secretions may be stuck in the sinuses & later chronically infected.

The endoscopic term refers in using of tiny fiberoptic telescope that assists all surgery to be conducted via nostrils. Endoscopic surgery does not require any skin incisions.
Endoscopic sinus surgery is performed carefully to remove the thin, fragile bone & membrane of mucus that is blocking the drainage path of sinuses. This surgery is usually performed to
alleviate traits correlated with sinusitis, nasal polys & septal deviations or turbinate hypertrophy.

What to Expect Before Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

1. In pre-operative endoscopic sinus surgery preparation, surgeons may prescribe medicines to enhance sinuses status for surgery.
2. This medication may contain antibiotic & oral steroids. One should take care of being regular in consuming prescribed medicine.
3. A physician may advise strongly patients to avoid few medications like aspirin, naproxen, vitamin E, garlic tablets at least before 15 days the surgery. This medical drug can thin blood & lead to excessive bleeding.
4. Smokers should avoid smoking prior to three weeks of surgery & avoid smoking at least 4 weeks after smoking as smoking may cause poor healing or sometimes may risk operation success.

What to Expect During Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Procedure

1. General or local anaesthesia is given to the patient while performing endoscopic sinus surgery.
2. The surgeon uses endoscope i.e a small camera rod which has a light attached at its end to give proper visualization & magnified sinus tissues.
3. This camera sends back images to the screen. It assists the doctor in viewing sinuses and where they are blocked.
   Endoscopic instruments are used to remove the cause of sinus blockages like nasal polyps, diseased tissue or bony blockages.
4. If the turbinates are enlarged in size, it is cauterised or partially excised to reduce its size.
5. Deviated nasal septum can also be corrected and made straight during the same surgery endoscopically.
6. Endoscopic sinus surgery does not require incision as the entire surgery is carried out through nostrils. Hence patient undergoing surgery doesn’t require a long hospital stay and usually, the patient is discharged on the next day of surgery.

What to Expect After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

1. Immediately after surgery there will be packing inside the nose to soak the blood come form surgical site, it is removed next day before discharge.
2. It is normal to have mild bleeding for 1-2days post endoscopic sinus surgery.
3. A patient may need to visit doctor post-surgery to undergo nasal endoscopy to examine how sinuses are recovering.

What Risks are Involved in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Endoscopic sinus surgery usually has very few risks associated with it. Before undergoing surgery once should properly consult the doctor and get a full view about the risks & benefits.