Sinus surgeries are often complex, and procedures rarely involve just one sinus or one area of the nose.
Instead, many structures are typically operated on using a variety of surgical techniques.
What Is Sinus Surgery?
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Sinus surgery encompasses a variety of different surgical procedures that can be performed on their own or in combination.
The procedure is also sometimes performed by anoral surgeonfor dental purposes.
Surgery is typically performed as anoutpatient procedure, allowing you to return home after surgery to recover.
Depending on the procedures performed, the surgery may involvelocal anesthesiaorgeneral anesthesia.
These can vary by the procedure performed.
Location
Sinus surgery is performed in the operating room of a hospital or specialized surgical center.
Leave all valuables at home, including jewelry.
You will need to remove contacts, hearing aids, dentures, and nose piercings prior to the surgery.
You are generally asked to stop eating at midnight the night before your surgery.
Within four hours of surgery, you cannot eat or drink anything, including gum or breath mints.
The same may apply toSt.
John’s wortandhigh-dose vitamin E, both of which can interfere with blood clotting.
Similarly,anticoagulants(blood thinners) likewarfarinand Plavix (clopidogrel) are usually stopped five days before surgery.
You may also need an approved form of payment if the facility requires upfront payment ofcopay/coinsuranceor procedure fees.
It is important that you bring someone with you to drive you home.
Smoking causes the extreme dilation of blood vessels throughout the body.
If you think you’ll have trouble quitting cigarettes, discuss the option of usingsmoking cessation aidswith your provider.
Many are fully covered by insurance under theAffordable Care Actand may end up costing you nothing.
Anisotonic saline nasal spraymay also be recommended for use immediately after surgery.
Both can be purchased over the counter at most drugstores.
If you have an especially thick mustache, you may want to trim it neatly prior to your arrival.
You do not need to shave your facial hair completely.
For open surgeries accessed through the mouth, the head may be tilted slightly forward.
Depending on the surgery, you may be given local or general anesthesia.
General anesthesia is delivered intravenously to put you completely to sleep.
The approach for surgery varies by whether it is endoscopic or open.
The surgery is performed entirely through the nostril, directed by live-feed images on the video monitor.
Once completed, a dissolvable spacer may be inserted to keep the air passages in the intended position.
The nostril may also be packed to stem bleeding.
Nasal tubes may or may not be inserted.
This provides direct access to the maxillary sinus.
Once the repairs are complete, the incision is stitched with dissolvable sutures, usually without filling the hole.
Pain medications may be prescribed, and you will be given detailedwound care instructionsto follow.
For the first day or two, take it easy and avoid any unnecessary movements.
Do not blow your nose for at least a week following sinus surgery.
Gently rinse with an oral antiseptic three times daily to avoid infection.
NSAIDs should be avoided as they can slow wound healing and increase the risk of nosebleeds.
For some surgeries, full recovery may not be achieved for three to four months.
Postoperative infections are uncommon but can occur.
A CT or MRI scan may also be ordered.
Revision surgery is often needed in such cases.
Unfortunately, there is really no way to tell in advance who may or may not experience recurrence.
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