Thinking of having sinus surgery.....

ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

WHY DO I NEED SINUS SURGERY?

Sinus surgery is needed if your sinus symptoms do not respond to medical treatment and lifestyle changes. It is important to understand that you may still need medical treatment in the form of irrigation with/ without steroid spray. You should discuss this in detail with your operating surgeon during your preop consultations.

WHAT ARE COMPLICATIONS OF SINUS SURGERY?

It is very important to discuss possible complications of surgery and how it impacts your quality of life and profession.

• Bleeding - Bleeding is a risk of any operation. It is very common for small amounts of bleeding to come from the nose in the days following the operation. Major bleeding is extremely uncommon and it is very rare for a transfusion to be required.

• Eye problems - The sinuses are very close to the wall of the eye socket. Sometimes minor bleeding can occur into the eye socket and this is usually noticed as some bruising around the eye. This usually gets better without any special treatment, although it is important that you do not blow your nose. More serious bleeding into the eye socket sometimes can occur, however, this is very rare. This can cause severe swelling of the eye and can even cause double vision or in very rare cases loss of sight. If such a serious eye complication did occur you would be seen by an eye specialist and may require further operations.

• Spinal Fluid Leak - The sinuses are very close to the bone at the base of the brain. All sinus operations carry a small risk of damage to this thin bone with leakage of fluid from around the brain into the nose, or other related injuries. If this rare complication does happen you will have to stay in the hospital longer and may require another operation to stop the leak. On very rare occasions infection has spread from the sinuses into the spinal fluid causing meningitis but this is extremely uncommon. You can discuss this complication with your surgeon before the operation.

No change in symptoms or recurrent symptoms- This could be due to persistent inflammation or allergy or crusting. In some cases, this may need cleaning and some times revision surgery.

In general, complications are very rare. In a survey of all ENT surgeons who do this type of operation in England, minor eye complications happened in one in every five hundred operations and spinal fluid leaks happened in one case in every thousand operations, so the risks are small. If you are particularly worried you should ask your surgeon about his or her experience of these complications.

WHAT TO EXPECT IMMEDIATE POST OP?

Sinus surgery is done in general anesthetic ie you will be sleeping during the procedure. You are allowed to go home once you have fully recovered from anesthesia the same day.

You may feel blocked in the nose. This could be due to absorbable dressing or gel inside your nose, a plastic splint or dry blood and mucus. If you have a splint, it will be removed in one week time. You will be adviced to you use saline irrigation to clean your nose from inside along with medical spray.

Do not blow your nose to clear as it can lead to bleeding while nose tissues are still healing for the first few weeks.

Sinus surgery is not a painful procedure and taking regular pain relief tablets which we will give should control the pain. It is important to remember that everyone has a different pain threshold.

Depending on the extent of surgery you will need time off school and work for a few days to a couple of weeks. Avoid too many visitors at home as you can catch an infection from them. Avoid lifting weight and straining for the first two weeks.

It is advisable to sleep little sitting up or with extra pillows for the first few nights to reduce postoperative swelling.

If are taking any blood thinner or herbal tablets, discuss with your doctor when to stop and restart them.

POSTOPERATIVE FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT?

Follow up visit and nasal douching are two very important components of good outcome after sinus surgery. Follow up after two-four weeks happens to clear splints, packing and suctioning the nose.

WHEN TO CONTACT HOSPITAL IN POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD?
- If you notice severe bleeding.
- If the headache is getting worse and not responding to painkillers.
- Eye disturbance.
- If you notice clear fluid from the nose.
- If you have a temperature.
- If start having neck stiffness.

Mr Gaurav Kumar

Ear Nose Throat Specialist

Book Online

https://entsurgeonclinic.co.uk/

Call 07494914140
email info@entsurgeonclinic.co.uk

THIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY ALWAYS DISCUSS WITH YOUR SURGEON INDICATIONs, TREATMENT OPTIONS, COMPLICATIONS, AND POSSIBLE OUTCOME.

Retracted Ear Drum

What Is a Retracted Eardrum? A retracted eardrum, also known as tympanic membrane retraction, is a condition where the eardrum (tympanic membrane) is pulled inward or drawn backwards from its normal position. The eardrum is a thin, delicate membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. It plays a crucial role in transmitting sound vibrations from the outer ear to the middle ear, where the auditory ossicles (small bones) are located. Under normal circumstances, the eardrum is slightly concave and positioned at an angle that allows it to respond to changes in air pressure. The Eustachian tube, a tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the throat, helps equalize pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment. However, in cases of a retracted eardrum, the Eustachian tube might not function correctly or become blocked, leading to an imbalance in pressure. When negative pressure builds up in the middle ear, it causes the eardrum to retract inwa

"Naseptin: Powerful Defence Against Nasal Bacteria!"

Everything You Need to Know About Using Naseptin Nasal Cream If you've been dealing with nasal issues, you may have come across Naseptin nasal cream as a potential solution. Whether you suffer from recurrent nasal infections (vestibulitis), nose bleeds or simply need some relief from nasal dryness, Naseptin can be a valuable aid. In this blog, we'll cover everything you need to know about using Naseptin nasal cream to ensure you get the best results from this trusted product. Unlocking the Power of Naseptin Nasal Cream: A Guide to Its Versatile Uses Naseptin nasal cream, a powerful ally in nasal health, holds the key to treating infections caused by staphylococcal bacteria. This versatile cream offers much more than meets the eye, and we're here to shed light on its incredible benefits! 🌟 👃 Kicking Nose Infections to the Curb: Say goodbye to those troublesome nose infections! Naseptin comes to the rescue, targeting staphylococcal bacteria and effect

Boil in the Ear canal can be very painful...

How do I know I have boil in the ear canal? The ear canal is lined by skin up to the eardrum. Skin in the outer third of the ear canal has hair follicles. Hair follicles can get infected with bacteria and can form boil or furunculosis. It is challenging to look in our own ear canal. You can only feel a bump in the ear canal entrance which is tender to touch. Why is so painful when we have boil in the ear? Ear canal skin is very tightly attached to underlying cartilage. So any swelling in the skin stretches it and makes it very sore to touch. How do we get boil in the ear canal? Most common causes of boil in the canal is dryness of the skin and trauma. Dry skin leads to cracks and these cracks can get infected. People who use dry earbuds, fingers, towel edges or pens and traumatise ear canal skin, which can get infected with bacteria. How do I release the temptation of using earbuds? Some people can get very dry skin due to sensitivity to soup, shampoo or dy

Tonsil Stones or Tonsilloliths

Where do Tonsil Stones come from? Tonsil stones or tonsillolith are formed in the tiny crevices on the tonsil surface. Tonsils are present at the back of the throat. Two large tonsils on each side can catch food particles when we eat. This food debris can accumulate bacteria and give a bad smell. This mixture of bacteria and food debris can become solid to form tonsil stones. Can Tonsil Stones go away on their own? Tonsil stones form due to food particle and bacteria. You can prevent stone formation by regularly rinsing mouth after every meal, good oral hygiene and dental care. Gargling with salt water and gentle use of bud to deliver the stones can help in some cases. Soft water floss can help keep tonsil surface clean. If you have, post nasal drip due to sinusitis, seeking treatment advice from ENT surgeon can help. You should not use sharp objects to clean tonsil stones or make tonsil surface bleed. What symptoms do tonsil stones cause? Tonsil ston

Cholesteatoma Ear Surgery

What is a Cholesteatoma? The ear has three parts outer ear (ear lobe and ear canal), the middle ear ( eardrum and bones of hearing) and inner ear. Cholesteatoma is skin from ear canal migrating into the middle ear. Like the skin on head keeps shedding and can cause dandruff. Similarly, skin in the middle ear can cause cholesteatoma, which can form a gradually expanding sac and can damage structures in the middle ear to give deafness, inner ear to give permanent deafness, nerve to the face to give a facial weakness or rarely give infection of the lining of the brain to cause meningitis Is cholesteatoma surgery or mastoidectomy done under general anaesthetic? Cholesteatoma is a surgical problem. Unfortunately, no medications work on it. Cholesteatoma surgery is called mastoidectomy, i.e. clearing cholesteatoma infection from the mastoid bone (the hard bone behind your ear). The procedure is done under general, i.e. you will be sleeping while the procedure is don

Vertigo and Dizziness..

Are labyrinthitis and vertigo the same? The ear has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, with small bones of hearing, and the inner ear, consisting of the labyrinth. The labyrinth has two parts as well, hearing processing part and balance part. When you get an infection in the inner ear, it is often called labyrinthitis. Common symptoms for Labyrinthitis are hearing loss or vertigo, however, there are also other causes for vertigo as well. What is the most important thing to remember when you have labyrinthitis symptoms? In the first few hours of symptoms, it is difficult to know between stroke and labyrinthitis. If you have vertigo and notice one side of your face becoming droopy, your arms or leg become weak and speech becomes slurred, you should call for urgent help. What is the difference between labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis? If you only have vertigo symptoms, then it is due to vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis oc

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Are you unable to pop your ears or feeling pressure in your ears? Eustachian tube dysfunction is a very common problem after flu or cold or even after long haul flight when you feel hearing is muffled, feel pressure around the ears and sometimes you feel as if you are underwater. Good news is most of the time it is temporary. If you try decongestants, antihistamine ( hay fever tablets ) and Valsalva (ie try and pop your ears) things should improve after a few days to a week. Why do we have symptoms of Eustachian tube dysfunction? The eustachian tube is present at the back of our nose and connects the nose to the middle ear. It is there to maintain equal pressure on both sides of the eardrum. The eustachian tube also helps in clearing normal mucus from the middle ear. Hence opening and closing of this ventilation tube are very important for hearing. Normally every time we yawn and chew this tube opens and closes without us noticing it. So, if this opening of ventilation tube

Pharyngeal Pouch

What is a pharyngeal pouch? When we eat food, it passes through the mouth, into the pharynx (the space behind our oral cavity) and then into the oesophagus (food pipe). In some patients, the lower part of the pharynx can bulge or form a pocket that can collect food and become large enough to compress on the food pipe. This 'hernia' is commonly known as the pharyngeal pouch or Zenker's diverticulum. Is a pharyngeal pouch serious? A pharyngeal pouch is an uncommon condition presenting predominantly in males than females, usually showing after the age of seventy or later. If the pharyngeal pouch is left untreated, it can become more prominent, and the regurgitation of food into the windpipe can lead to chest infections. In sporadic cases, cancer can form in the pouch. What are the symptoms of a pharyngeal pouch? Symptoms of pharyngeal pouch depend on the size. A small pharyngeal pouch mainly presents as a feeling of something stuck in the throat or choking on food, an

Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SCDS)

🔍 Unlocking the Mystery of Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome (SCDS) 🌀✨ It's a rare condition that affects the inner ear, and here's the lowdown: Cause: SCDS occurs when one of the bony canals in the inner ear, particularly the uppermost semicircular canal, doesn't close or thicken properly during fetal development. Symptoms: Hearing Loss: It's a common symptom of SCDS. Sound Distortion: Ever feel like sounds aren't quite right? That could be SCDS at play. Balance Problems: SCDS can throw your balance off, making you feel unsteady. Autophony: Imagine hearing your own heartbeat or breathing louder than usual. That's autophony. World Tumbling Sensation: Loud noises or pressure changes might make you feel like the world is spinning. Diagnosis and Treatment: CT Scans: A specialist might use these to spot SCDS, but other tests are crucial too. Hearing Tests: Essential for accurate diagnosis. Treatment: Surgery may be necessary for severe symptoms.

Bleeding From Ears

Why is my Q-tip bleeding from my ear? It can be alarming if you've ever noticed blood on your Q-tip after cleaning your ears. Here are a few reasons why this might happen: 🚫 Avoid Inserting Q-tips Too Deep: The most common cause of bleeding is inserting Q-tips too far into the ear canal. This can lead to irritation, scratches, or even damage to the delicate ear tissues. 🩹 Ear Injuries or Scratches: Vigorous or improper cleaning can cause small injuries or scratches inside the ear canal. These injuries may result in bleeding when you use a Q-tip. 🩸 Ear Infections: Infections like otitis externa or swimmer's ear can make the ear canal more sensitive. Cleaning during an active infection can cause bleeding. 🔄 Wax Impaction: Excessive earwax can cause blockages, leading to a feeling of fullness and impaired hearing. Attempting to clean it out with a Q-tip may cause bleeding, especially if the wax is impacted. 👂 What to Do: Stop Q-tip Use: Refr

ENT conditions (Mr Gaurav Kumar)

Search This Blog

Featured post

"Exploring Post-Grommet Complications: What You Need to Know"