Sinus surgeries are more for chronic cases whereby the standard prescription medicines do not work anymore. It is also for those suffering from recurrent sinusitis. Sinus surgery is usually recommended only as a last resort. Acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis are often treated with antibiotics, antihistamines, decongestants and mucolytics ( prescribed for thinning the mucus). Sometimes pain-relief drugs may also be prescribed for those those experiencing severe sinus infection symptoms such as sinus headaches in the frontal sinuses and ethmoid sinuses.
Simple home remedies for sinus infection like steam inhalation and flushing the nasal passages with saline water (nasal irrigation) can help ease these symptoms. Nasal irrigation can be administered by using a plastic syringe or a neti pot. Some clinics provide a more thorough nasal cleansing system of the sinuses. This is called the entral wash whereby a tube is inserted into the patient’s nostrils to flush it out with saline solution.
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
For many patients who suffer from severe and recurring sinusitis, there is a more permanent solution. This is medically called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (fess). This operation involves the removal of inflamed and infected tissues. It could also be adopted for expanding the sinus passages so as to achieve better drainage.
Image guided surgery was originally developed for neurosurgery but was subsequently adopted in endoscopic sinus surgery. This surgery combines CT Scans and real time information of the exact position of the instruments. This is done through three dimensional mapping.
This minimally-invasive operation is done completely through the nostrils without any external incisions and a new technology known as Image Guided Systems (IGS) have allowed ENT specialists to more accurately locate the affected sinus areas which require surgery.
This revolutionary method focuses on resolving the underlying cause of the problem. During surgery, the damaged tissues that causes swelling in the mucosa are removed. There is only minor discomfort felt after the procedure. There is also the advantage of having no scarring or swelling.
The use of such technology has the advantage of reducing the chances of complications during surgery. For those with facial deformities, IGS has proven to be invaluable. Most patients will recover within a week to 10 days after the FESS procedure which is often done as a day surgery.
Do you know that 90% of sinus infections are caused by 3 major factors? Look out for the telling signs and sinus infection symptoms and how easily you can solve and prevent them at Sinus Infection Help