Chronic sinusitis, which occurs when the sinuses become inflamed for various reasons and the airways narrow, needs to be treated with surgery.
What is Sinusitis?
Sinuses are the air spaces covered with respiratory cells located inside the skull, around the eyes, cheeks and nose. The function of these air spaces is to humidify, warm, secrete mucus, filter the air and prevent the growth of bacteria. The inflammation of the respiratory cells that cover the sinuses is called Sinusitis.
What are the Symptoms of Sinusitis?
Sinusitis causes discomfort such as nasal congestion, pain around the forehead and eyes, sleeping with the mouth open and snoring, fatigue and weakness. Due to these symptoms, the person’s quality of life is also seriously negatively affected. Since problems that may lead to lung diseases may occur in the future, it is important not to delay the treatment of sinusitis.
What Causes Sinusitis?
There are many individual and environmental reasons that cause inflammation of the sinuses. The two most prominent factors are upper respiratory tract infections and mucosal edema that develops due to allergies and causes congestion. Other than these two factors, possible causes are;
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- Allergies
- Nasal bone curvatures (Deviation)
- Polyps,
- Nasal flesh growths
- Adenoids
- Congenital anomalies of the nose
- Dental infections
- Cigarettes and cigarette smoke,
- Activities that cause pressure changes
What is FESS Surgery?
FESS stands for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. In other words, it is the name given to sinusitis surgery. Chronic sinusitis that cannot be resolved with medical treatments, when experienced frequently, is inevitable to eliminate the problem with surgery. Before the surgery, a computerized tomography (Paranasal Sinus CT) is taken for detailed evaluation of the sinuses.
How is FESS Surgery Performed?
FESS surgery takes approximately 1-1.5 minutes. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and there are no scars left on the face afterwards. By entering through the nose with the endoscopic method, the tissues causing inflammation of the sinuses, polyps and cysts if any, are cleaned, and the narrowed sinus channels are opened. By opening the sinus passages, accumulations that will occur in the sinuses will be prevented and secretions can be expelled through the nasal passages.
After FESS Surgery?
The type of tampon to be used after FESS surgery may vary depending on the doctor’s decision and the entirety of the procedures performed. Usually, a self-dissolving tampon is used inside the nose. During FESS surgery, a deviation surgery, meaning bone curvature in the nose, can also be performed. After sinusitis surgery with deviation, a tampon can be placed inside the nose to be removed by the doctor after 24 hours. After the surgery, patients are discharged after staying in the hospital for one night. Attention should be paid to post-operative doctor check-ups and proper cleaning of the inside of the nose.
Full recovery of the inside of the nose after FESS surgery can take up to 4-6 weeks. It may vary from person to person, but patients can return to their normal lives within 3-5 days.
