If you’re suffering from
a sinus infection and have tried everything under the sun to alleviate
your inflamed nasal passages, tender cheeks and severe pain behind
your eyes, then sinus surgery may be your next option. Sometimes
antibiotics, oral decongestants and prescribed medications just
don’t do the trick. Sinus surgery, like endoscopic sinus surgery,
can be effective and non evasive.
Still, when considering any type of surgery, like sinus surgery,
it is important to consult a doctor first, preferably a nose, ear
and throat specialist. Before the sinus surgery, an anesthesiologist
will review the patient’s medical history. You should not
take aspirin about 10 days prior to the sinus surgery and consult
your doctor about other medications. Abstain from eating or drinking
anything roughly six hours before the procedure and smokers are
advised to stop smoking.
These are considered possible risks and complications that can occur
due to sinus surgery:
Bleeding
Not curing the sinus infection or having
it return
Excessive nasal drainage or excessive dryness
Permanent numbness of the upper teeth or
face
Nasal passage obstruction due to not controlling
the infection
The procedure itself can involve inserting
a thin fiberoptic tube into the nose to get a clear view of the
sinuses. Then the obstructive tissues are removed with instruments.
Another sinus surgery would consist of draining the maxillary sinus
by entering it through the upper jaw, and creating a connection
from the sinus to the nose.
Once the procedure is over, patients may experience mild bleeding
and swelling of the nose, upper lip, cheeks and eye area. This may
last for several days after the sinus surgery. Ice will help reduce
the swelling. It is recommended you don’t strain. After sinus
surgery is it also highly recommended that you perform nasal irrigation,
which consists of using salt water to rinse out your nasal passages.
This will prevent mucus crusts from collecting in your nose. Another
way to prevent mucus crusts from forming is by lubricating the nostrils
with petroleum jelly using a cotton swab.
