Department of Otolaryngology –
Head & Neck Surgery
Tampa, Florida
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ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY
What are sinuses?
The sinuses are four-paired air filled spaces in the head. They function in warming and moisturizing the air we breathe,
filtering it of dust, particles, and bacteria. They normally continuously produce mucus or phlegm, which eventually
drains from the opening of the sinuses toward the back of the nose and down the throat. The four pairs of sinuses are
the maxillary (under the eyes where the cheeks are), ethmoid (between the eyes), frontal (over the eyes) and sphenoid
(in the center of the head).
When is surgery necessary?
Surgery of the sinuses is performed for a number of reasons. It is commonly done to relieve symptoms in people who
have chronic sinusitis, or continuous sinus symptoms such as nasal congestion, discolored drainage, facial or teeth pain,
headache, fever, and difficulty with smell for 3 or more months. Patients who have acute recurring sinusitis, lasting
weeks at a time but responding to medicine and recurring every few months, may also benefit. Other patients who have
nasal blockage from polyps in the nose and sinuses also benefit. Other reasons exist that your doctor may discuss with
you.
What does the surgery consist of?
Surgery is done entirely through the nose with specialized instruments and cameras to allow visualization of the sinuses
in detail. The openings of the sinuses are widened depending on where the disease exists. Polyps are removed if found.
Packing material may or may not be used in the nose after.
What to expect after?
Pain is typically mild to moderate, and your doctor will prescribe an appropriate medication. Bleeding from the nose is
common, and may occur for 2 to 3 days afterward. You may use a folded up gauze sponge taped under the nose to
collect the dripping. A spray may be prescribed to control this. Nasal congestion, drainage, and mild swelling may also be
present up to several weeks. Avoid heavy lifting or straining and blowing the nose for 2 weeks postoperatively. Try to
sneeze with the mouth open.
Call your doctor if you experience high fever (>102 deg Fahrenheit), a change in vision, severe pain, increased facial
swelling, or profuse bloody or clear drainage from the nose.
Rarely, complications from surgery may include injury to the brain or eyes. This is because both of these structures are
close by in the inside of the nose, a very narrow space.
Mailing Address (all locations): 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 73 Tampa, Fl 33612
http://health.usf.edu/medicine/ent