Sinus surgery is an operation in which the openings of the sinuses are opened widely to allow ventilation and to prevent them from becoming blocked. This helps to reduce inflammation in the sinuses and also to prevent recurrent infections.
Sinus surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Depending on the extent of surgery it may take anywhere from 1-3 hours. The surgery is done through the nose using tiny telescopes and specially designed instruments. It is very rare for incisions to be made on the face and if so they would be in the eyebrow line and essentially invisible. Nevertheless these would be discussed with you prior to surgery if they were a possibility. The sinuses that are diseased will be opened into the nose. The partitions between the ethmoid sinuses (between the eyes) are removed to create a single cavity. This facilitates delivery of medication to the sinuses after surgery. You may also require a septoplasty and/or inferior turbinate reduction. The details of these operations can be reviewed here.
This procedure requires a one-night stay in hospital. Rarely there may be dissolvable dressings in the nose (more common if undergoing turbinate surgery as well, click here). The following day you will be discharged home with a regimen of antibiotics and saline flushes for the nose. You will be taught how to use these before you leave hospital. It is not uncommon to have some minor bleeding or bloodstained ooze from the nose after this surgery.
There are a number of things to avoid after nasal surgery. Please avoid nose blowing, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise as well as hot food or drinks and hot showers.
Read further detailed post-operative instructions.
Usually I see you back around 2 weeks after the operation at which time I will examine the nose again with the telescope and remove any crusts that remain.
We are currently in unchartered waters with the COVID-19 pandemic. At ENTSA we are, as always, committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff and our patients. Ear, nose and throat examinations and surgery however are considered extremely high risk for virus transmission and so we are making changes in our practice.
The current recommendations from the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS) are:
As a result of this, our practice is changing. We are still here to care for new and existing patients. We have established a Telehealth system to enable continuity of care for existing patients and a ‘non-contact’ option for new patients to access an initial assessment and commencement of treatment.
Please call us to discuss Telehealth options on: (08) 7200 2539
We will still see some patients in the office however this will be limited to protect the health of you and our staff.
If you attend, we ask you to comply with the following: