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Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Treatment Service
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the preferred surgical treatment option for chronic sinusitis patients. FESS is traditionally performed in a hospital operating room and involves the removal of the inflamed sinus tissue, as well as the underlying bone to open the nasal pathway and enlarge the sinus ostia. The surgeon can also perform additional procedures if needed to treat nasal deformities or to gain access to the sinuses.
The three most common sinus surgery procedures include ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy and powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty.
Ethmoidectomy: aids in clearing the ethmoid sinuses. Maxillary antrostomy: enables the maxillary sinuses to drain more efficiently and effectively. Powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty: involves the clearing of breathing difficulties caused by a deviated or displaced nasal septum that causes one nasal passage to be smaller than the other or enlarged turbinates, which clean and humidify the air as it transitions from the nose to the lungs.
When the surgical procedure is complete, the surgeon fills the nasal cavity with packing materials that aid in preventing surgical adhesions and controlling bleeding. In addition, patients often require at least one (if not multiple) follow-up visits for debridement, whereby the surgeon removes damaged tissue from the body.
Some Drawbacks to Surgery Remain
While FESS is the standard of care in the surgical treatment of chronic sinusitis, it does carry a host of risks and selected drawbacks.
Selected Drawbacks, Traditional Sinus Surgery (FESS)
- Irreversible changes to the patient’s underlying anatomy.
- Post-operative pain and discomfort, including that of follow-up debridement procedures.
- Recovery time of approximately 2-3 days.
- General anesthesia risks, such as excessive bleeding and intraorbital complications.
- Surgical complications, including eye swelling or blindness (though quite rare, occurring in approximately 1% of all FESS procedures).