Sinusitis is a mucous membrane inflammation that can make it difficult for your sinuses to drain and increase the production of mucus. It becomes chronic when it lasts more than 12 weeks. Chronic sinusitis presents recurrent or continuing symptoms that don’t respond to treatment. You may need to undergo Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) to relieve the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. If you experience symptoms such as nasal inflammation, postnasal drainage, runny nose, blocked or stuffy nose, and others, you should see a specialist like Dr. Cecil Yeung in Houston and get your condition diagnosed and determine the right treatment option for you.
What Is FESS?
This minimally-invasive procedure uses endoscopes to view nose and sinus structures. A surgeon inserts the endoscope through the nose to determine the underlying disease. FESS lets surgeons enlarge and clear sinus pathways to restore normal drainage and function. The procedure helps prevent mucus and pus buildup that can occur in chronic sinusitis.
Reasons for Performing FESS
FESS is carried out to help patients with acute or chronic sinusitis. Usually, medication does not offer enough relief for such conditions, so a patient may need to get surgery to correct the underlying problem. FESS ensures the mucus produced by the sinuses is drained freely every day. This can improve the symptoms associated with sinuses like difficulty breathing through the nose, sinus pressure or congestion, facial pain, reduced sense of taste or smell, and fatigue. In addition, nasal polyps that may contribute to sinusitis can be removed during the procedure.
Benefits of FESS
FEES has a lot of benefits over more invasive surgeries. It offers doctors an improved ability to see within the nose and sinuses. It is carried out through the nostrils, which means the patient won’t have outside scarring. Also, since it is an outpatient procedure, recovery is often fast. Because FESS is less invasive, it causes less pain. And because of its precision, a patient’s healthy nasal and sinus tissues are preserved.
What to Expect After the Procedure?
After the procedure, the patient will make follow-up visits that their doctor will tell them. They will get a prescription for pain medicines after surgery. Also, they may get antibiotics or oral steroids. The patient will be told not to blow their nose the first week after surgery. They must also avoid exercise and limit exertion for a minimum of two weeks after surgery. Because of these restrictions, it is best to take around a week off from work.