Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
The procedure:
- The ENT physician examines the sinus’ openings for obstructive or unusual growths or tissues, if they found blockage an Endoscopic sinus surgery is a surgical procedure that might be considered to remove the blockages in the sinuses.
- These blockages if not removed may cause sinusitis, in which the sinus mucous membranes swell and become blocked, causing pain, drainage and impaired breathing.
- Usually under general anesthesia, a surgeon will use an endoscope, a thin camera rod with a light at the end, to provide visualization and magnification of the sinus tissues
- Endoscopic sinus surgery does not involve cutting through the skin, as it is performed entirely through the nostrils. It is a day operation & patients don’t have to stay in the hospital.
- Specialized instruments can be used to safely and effectively remove causes of sinus blockage like natural blockages, nasal polyps and scar tissue.
- Specialized instruments are also used to straighten the septum and reduce the size of the turbinate if required.
Goals:
- Reduction of the number and severity of sinus infections.
- Improvement in symptoms associated with sinusitis.
- Improvement of airflow through the nose.
- Improvement in a patient’s sense of smell.