Congestion precipitated by nasal allergies and minor upper respiratory ailments like the common cold are a nuisance that everyone faces from time to time. However, for some people, sinus pain and pressure is a chronic, quite possibly, everyday occurrence that interferes with their quality of life and can make carrying out common activities challenging. In such instances, medical intervention might be necessary.
One specific treatment protocol is a procedure called Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, also referred to as Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. The following brief piece discusses what this operation is, how the procedure is performed and what benefits it provides to patients who undergo it. In addition, this article will touch on the recovery process and attempt to answer the inquiry of whether or not a recipient can return to work immediately after undergoing the technique.
What Is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?
Unlike traditional sinus surgeries, which involve extensive incisions surrounding the recipient’s mouth and the upper part of his or her face, endoscopic sinus surgery is performed only on the nose. This breakthrough was made possible by the invention of the nasal endoscope, a tiny metal object equipped with a light and a miniscule camera that enables a surgeon to examine and correct maladies of the nasal cavity without having to utilize invasive methods.
Why Is The Procedure Performed?
In most instances, endoscopic sinus surgery is performed on patients whose nasal cavities have been damaged by the severe inflammation resulting from chronic sinusitis. That said, there are other conditions for which this medical procedure might be indicated. These include: benign and/or malignant sinus tumors, obstructed tear ducts, nasal polyps and metastatic sinus infections that might have spread to areas such the eyes, ears and/or brain.
How Is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Performed?
The extreme inflammation often seen in diseased sinuses can result in blocked and/or enlarged clumps of nasal cavity tissue that connects to the nose and serve as passageways to the ears and eyes. A surgeon will aim to pinpoint where these abnormalities exist and correct them. The final result is intended to be improved sinus drainage and a decrease, if not complete elimination of pain-inducing inflammation and the infections such swelling can cause. In certain cases, a surgeon may need to inflate a balloon within the impacted sinuses to clear away obstructing tissue. Typically, the patient undergoes general anesthesia prior to being administered the surgery. On some occasions, the procedure can be performed after the administration of only a local anesthetic.
What Are The Benefits Of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?
1) Better General Health
Among the most important benefits a patient will likely experience is a dramatic improvement to his or her overall health and quality of life moving forward. Those who have undergone this procedure are often stricken with fewer, if any further recurrences of sinus infections, as well as a reduction in headaches and other bothersome nasal symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and/or facial discomfort.
2) A More Effective Treatment Option
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery could prove to offer a more viable and faster method of eradicating sinus trouble than medications. Having the surgery performed earlier on in the progression of a patient’s sinus condition might eliminate the problem with greater efficiency than drugs like antibiotics. Antibiotics may offer a quick fix, but fail to address the underlying causes of the illness. In addition, repetitive use of antibiotics and other medications may elicit side effects and/or precipitate bodily resistance to them, leading to ineffective treatment protocols.
3) A Minimally Invasive Procedure
Patients who undergo Endoscopic Sinus Surgery do not experience the post-operative pain, bleeding and/or scarring that other sinus disease correcting techniques carry the risk of developing.
What Does The Recovery From Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Entail?
It is normal to experience certain effects following this procedure, including minor bleeding that typically ebbs within three to five days following surgery; mild, dull pains emanating from the specific points in the nasal cavity which were operated on, fatigue and nasal discharge. Over-the-counter pain relievers may help with discomfort. That said, it is important to avoid analgesics containing aspirin because these substances could make any postoperative bleeding more severe.
A patient will likely be required to return to his or her surgeon and/or another physician to have the nasal cavity cleaned and examined to ensure proper healing is taking place, as well as to prevent any complications from developing.
Can I Return To Work Right After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?
The recovery period varies depending upon the severity of a patient’s condition, as well as the extent of his or her surgery. In most instances, patients can resume normal, everyday activities such as returning to work about a week or so after the procedure is performed. However, in cases where the patient’s job involves significant physical exertion, he or she might wish to wait a bit longer as strenuous exercise can result in nosebleeds anywhere from a few days to a week following surgery.
Those with long-standing sinus problems, or for whom endoscopic sinus surgery might offer relief, are encouraged to contact the Hudson Valley Sinus Center, which is considered to be among the New York City metropolitan area’s premiere facilities for the treatment of sinus diseases. The Center’s founder, Dr. Rubenstein, is Board Certified by the American Board Of Otolaryngology For Head And Neck Surgery, as well as the American Board Of Facial And Plastic Surgery. Dr. Rubenstein has devoted a significant portion of his career to successfully treating sinus conditions and is widely respected as a leader in the field.
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