Patients whose computed tomography scans show “permanent disease” can use the sinus surgery method. Patients who do not respond to medical treatment do not require surgery. Before applying for sinus surgery, it is necessary to make sure that patients have tried all medical and drug treatments. After all treatment methods, if there is still evidence of chronic sinus disease or if sinus congestion persists, surgery is recommended.

When Is Sinus Surgery Recommended?

The conditions for applying for sinus surgery are:

• Evidence of chronic sinusitis even after aggressive medical treatment
• Sin disease caused by a fungal infection
• Nasal or sinus polyps
• Structural abnormalities of the nose or sinuses
• Sin infection that spreads to the bone
• Sinus cancer
• Chronic sinusitis with HIV

Types of Sinus Surgery

The most common surgical procedure for patients with chronic sinusitis is endoscopic sinus surgery. Operations used on the sinuses:

1. Functional Endoscopic Surgery: This surgical procedure uses a lighted tube called an endoscope to look directly into the nose and sinuses. During an endoscopy, the surgeon may remove tissue, clear the sinuses, and widen the sinus openings for drainage.

2. Balloon Sinuplasty: In this surgical procedure, an inflatable balloon catheter is inserted into the sinus and then the balloon is inflated to widen the sinus openings.

3. Open Sinus Surgery: In some complex chronic sinusitis cases, an operation can be performed directly on the sinus. Thus, the diseased tissue can be directly removed and the sinus can be reconstructed.

Sinus Surgery Pros and Cons

The biggest plus of sinus surgery is that it usually works. Recovery can take several months to complete, and post-operative care is very important during this time. Studies show that sinus surgery is 85 to 90 percent effective. The advantages of this operation are that the endoscopic operation has few complications and the patient feels very little pain during recovery.

The downside of the operation is that post-operative care is at least as important as the surgical procedure itself. Patients should come to their controls for endoscopic examinations and cleaning. Patients should be aware that sinus surgery alone is not sufficient for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. Postoperative care is also a process that directly affects the healing process. The best results for sinus surgery occur when you and your ENT surgeon work together, keeping in constant communication before and after the surgery.