Sinusitis Corrective Surgery Types and Recovery

Sinus corrective surgery is predominantly performed to clear sinus cavities so that the natural drainage pathways work normally. Surgery is mainly done to:

1. Remove infected, swollen or damaged tissues
2. Remove a foreign object stuck in the sinus passage
3. Remove an overgrown bone and polyps

"Chronic sinus infection causes a lot of pain and discomfort to the patient. Corrective surgery is the best option when all other forms of treatment have failed." - Dr Babu Manohar, ENT Specialist

Many ENT doctors do not opt to treat sinusitis with surgery from the beginning and will put the patient on medication for at least three months and if there is no improvement in the patient's condition only then surgery is recommended. Chronic sinusitis can only be treated by a surgery which is performed by an ENT doctor after the patient undergoes a thorough check-up by a specialist (otolaryngologist).

Sinus surgery is recommended when these signs are visible:

1. The problem continues even after aggressive medical treatment
2. Sinus diseases caused by infections
3. Sinusitis and HIV
4. Cancer of the sinus
5. Infection that has spread
6. Sinus polyps
7. Sinus abnormalities

Risks Of Sinus Surgery -

There are numerous risks associated with sinus surgery which can also prove to be fatal if not treated immediately. Some of the complications include:

1. Bleeding
2. Recurrence of the same problem 
3. Infection
4. Damage to the eyes
5. Severe prolonged pain
6. Loss of sense of smell or taste
7. Chronic nasal drainage
8. Additional surgery
9. Permanent numbness of the face
10. Headaches
11. Impaired hearing

Types Of Sinus Surgery -

Sinus corrective surgeries usually only take a couple of hours to complete and they are often treated as an outpatient operation with the patient being allowed to leave the same day. The patient is advised not to eat or drink eight hours before the surgery and must bring along at least one person who can stay back to help and support after the operation. There are three common types of sinus corrective surgery performed:

1. Endoscopic surgery: In this procedure, a lighted tube called endoscope is pushed into the nose and sinuses. During this surgery, a surgeon can remove damaged tissue, clean the sinuses and also enlarge them to help them drain better.
2. Balloon Sinuplasty: Here, a balloon is attached to a catheter and is pushed into the sinus and the balloon is inflated to widen the sinuses.
3. Open sinus surgery: This procedure is used in complicated cases where an incision is made over the sinuses, the dead tissue is removed and the sinuses are stitched back again.

Opt for a sinus corrective surgery only when everything else fails and remember that post-operative care is very important.

Visit your nearest Apollo Spectra Hospital to get tested for chronic sinusitis today.