Problems requiring endoscopic surgery can be quite chronic in nature, can affect the quality of life, and can lead to a decreased sense of energy. The sinus cavities are hollow chambers inside of the head and face that can become repeatedly infected and need to be surgically opened to reduce the symptoms. Millions of people are plagued by blocked cavities that do not respond well to medication. Endoscopic sinus surgery opens the internal sinuses. It also involves removing polyps on the inside of the sinuses as well. All of the procedure is done from the inside of the nose using telescopes. The recovery is less painful, and there is no visible bruising or scarring on the outside portion of the nose. Endoscopic surgery involves a telescope that allows viewing of the inside of the patient's sinuses.
There are four sets of sinuses inside everyones's face:
1. frontal
2. maxillary
3. ethmoid
4. sphenoid
Each one of these has a narrow passageway through which aeration occurs, and through which the mucus drain out and into the nasal cavity. From the nasal cavity, the mucus drains down the back of the throat. When the sinuses are blocked, this becomes an infection with all the accompanying symptoms of headaches, facial pain, and pressure. Problems can be recurring and ongoing and can develop either from one sinus being blocked or multiple blockages.
Endoscopic surgery can help correct these problems.
Endoscopic sinus surgery is done under general anesthesia in our Medicare-certified outpatient surgery center. Magnified endoscopes (telescopes) with instrumentation are used to open up the blocked areas. Special attention is usually directed at the middle meatus, which is the area where most cavities drain into the nose. Polyps are removed with the endoscopic surgery. If the ethmoid sinuses are blocked, an ethmoidectomy will be performed to remove the ethmoid air cell. The maxillary sinuses are opened only if needed, provided they have polyps or the skin lining on the inside of the sinuses is swollen. This procedure takes 30-45 minutes to perform, and two sponges are placed inside the nose to help with bleeding. These are removed by the patient the following day. Call Dr. Portuese at (206) 624-6200 for more information about Sinus Surgery in Seattle today.
