Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)

1. FAQ:FUNCTIONALENDOSCOPICSINUS SURGERY Dr. ParitaPandyaShah M.S. ENT, Head & NeckCancer Surgeon, VertigoSpecialist

2. FUNCTIONALENDOSCOPICSINUSSURGERY Sinusitis afflicts millions of people in the India every year. It is a disease which causes thickening and swelling of the linings of the sinuses in the face and forehead region, causing symptoms of congestion, drainage, post-nasal drip, diminished sense of smell, and headaches or facial pain. Your doctor has recommended functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) as a means to help reduce these chronic symptoms. But since sinusitis is a chronic disease analogous to asthma or high blood pressure, surgery alone rarely brings cure; however, the symptoms of the disease can often be helped significantly with marked improvement in overall functioning and lifestyle. WHATISFUNCTIONALENDOSCOPICSINUS SURGERY? Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was developed in Austria in the 1970’s. The procedure requires no incisions on the face but utilizes “telescopes” which are long thin rods of glass wrapped with stainless steel providing illumination and visualization in the nose and sinus pathways. Instruments that have been designed solely for the purpose of FESS are used alongside the telescopes to perform the operation. The purpose of the operation is to enlarge the drainage pathways of the sinuses thereby preventing the build-up of mucus and pus in the sinuses so common in chronic sinusitis. This can be understood as the sinuses being analogous to the rooms off of a hallway: surgery helps to remove the walls between the rooms and the hallway, resulting in one large hallway without partitions. The operation may be performed under general anesthesia with you completely asleep and a machine supporting your breathing or under local anesthesia with sedation where you remain in a “twilight”. Your doctor’s preference may vary depending on your particular situation. You may wish to speak with him more regarding this.

3. WHENISSINUSSURGERYNECESSARY? 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. WHATHAPPENSDURINGSINUSSURGERY? 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.

4. 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. HOWLONGISRECOVERYTIME? 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. HOWMUCHPAINISTHEREWITHTHIS SURGERY? 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.

5. CONTACTDETAILS 3rd Floor, Emrald One Complex, Next to Jetalpur Bridge, Jetalpur Road, VADODARA, GUJARAT 390007 INDIA advancespeciality@gmail.com +91 91574 83377 / 99 Get your ENT checkup done in covid free clinic.