Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) procedures are outpatient or day surgery, which means you can usually go home the same day as your procedure. Make sure you have a friend or family member who can drive you home after surgery.
You’ll meet with your healthcare team before the operation, and they’ll answer any questions you may have. The anesthesiologist will ask about your medical history and develop an anesthesia plan. He or she will discuss the plan with you and answer your questions.
FESS procedures are usually done under general anesthesia. The procedure can last from 1 to 3 hours, depending on your particular condition.
THE ETHMOIDECTOMY PROCEDURE
During an ethmoidectomy, your Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon passes a narrow tube called an endoscope into your nose. This tube has a tiny camera and a light at the end of it, so the surgeon has an excellent view of your ethmoid sinuses.
Small surgical instruments are then passed to the site of the problem through another thin tube. With these instruments, your surgeon opens the ethmoid sinus cavity to improve drainage into the nasal airway.
THE MAXILLARY ANTROSTOMY PROCEDURE
During a maxillary antrostomy, the ENT surgeon passes a narrow tube called an endoscope into your nose. This tube has a tiny camera and a light at the end of it, so the surgeon has an excellent view of your maxillary sinus, the opening to the maxillary sinus, and the area of the nose where it drains (the osteomeatal complex). Then small surgical instruments are passed to the site of the problem through another thin tube.
Using these instruments, your ENT doctor removes the blockage in your maxillary sinuses. This helps the fluid in your maxillary sinuses drain more efficiently and should reduce your chances of getting sinus infections in the future.
THE POWERED SEPTOPLASTY WITH TURBINPLASTY PROCEDURE
During a powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty surgery, your ENT surgeon passes a narrow tube called an endoscope into your nose. This tube has a tiny camera and a light at the end of it, so the surgeon has an excellent view of your septum and turbinates. Small surgical instruments are passed to the site of the problem through another thin tube.
With these instruments, your surgeon corrects the deviation in your septum and reduces the enlarged turbinates. This procedure removes the blockage in your nose to help you breathe more freely and improve drainage.
Immediately after surgery, you’ll be in a recovery room and monitored for about one hour. This is to make sure there are no complications. If you’re doing well, you can usually leave the hospital the same day.
Before you leave the hospital, you’ll get important instructions on how to care for your nose and sinuses while they heal, and when to return for a follow-up visit. Your doctor may also give you several prescriptions, including one for pain medication, in case you need it.
If you have any questions or concerns before and after your FESS procedure, be sure to ask your doctor.
Most patients with chronic sinus infections don’t need surgery. Medical treatment and lifestyle changes usually work or keep symptoms under control. But if the changes don’t work, surgery may be the best alternative.
Having surgery is a big decision. Many things have to be considered first. For example: How severe are your symptoms? What does a CT scan show? How is your general health?
You and your doctor will decide if sinus surgery is the best choice for you. If you’re an older adult, or if you have a child that may need sinus surgery, special considerations need to be taken. It’s important to work with your doctor to get the treatment that’s best for you or your family member.
Today, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is one of the most common surgical methods to treat chronic sinus infections. In a FESS procedure, the surgeon uses a magnifying endoscope to see and remove affected tissue and bone.
Before FESS, surgeons cut directly into the outside of the face to find the problem and remove it, increasing infection risk and recovery time. FESS is a more precise, less invasive way to open the sinuses and help restore you to better health.
The three sinus procedures discussed here (as well as others) may be performed using FESS. Which one your ENT doctor uses depends on what’s causing your problem. In general, the goal of sinus surgery is to flush out infected material, open up blocked passages, and keep enough healthy tissue so that your nose and sinuses can function normally.
At the end of your sinus surgery, your doctor may also use the innovative Hydrodebrider™ System. This special device delivers a powered spray to “wash out” your sinuses, helping to remove the bacteria associated with chronic sinus infections.
Once the procedure is finished, temporary nasal packing will be placed in your nose to support the newly opened sinus passages and to absorb excess fluid while your tissues heal. If your doctor uses traditional nasal packing, it will have to be removed by your doctor after surgery, which can be painful. Medtronic offers dissolvable nasal packing that is gradually resorbed by the body and doesn’t require removal.
Your recovery time depends on your overall health and which sinus surgery you have (ethmoidectomy, maxillary antrostomy, or powered septoplasty with turbinoplasty). Usually, you should plan to be away from work or school for at least several days after your surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how best to care for yourself to help speed recovery.
Every patient tolerates pain differently. Most patients manage sinus surgery pain with oral pain pills. Your doctor can tell you what to expect, based on the type of surgery you have. Facial swelling or bruising is rare, but the inside of your nose will be swollen and sore for a while. This may make breathing through your nose difficult for about two weeks.
It can be painful when your doctor removes the nasal packing from your nose at a follow-up appointment after surgery. This is because tissue and fluid inside your nose can stick to traditional packing material as the nose heals. Medtronic offers dissolvable nasal packing that may help the inside of your nose heal faster1 and is gradually resorbed by the body, so you don’t have to endure the painful removal of traditional nasal packing.
Our team of highly skilled specialists brings years of experience and dedication to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment.
We utilize advanced medical technology and adhere to international healthcare protocols, delivering world-class services to every patient.
Transparency, integrity, and trust form the foundation of our practice. We believe in providing care that is honest, respectful, and patient-centered.
We understand that each patient is unique. Our personalized approach ensures that your treatment plan is tailored to catering to your specific needs and preferences.
