Endoscopic sinus surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure with the patient under general anesthesia (asleep).
Most sinus surgery procedures are performed under general anesthesia (If local anesthesia with intravenous sedation is an option, your surgeon will discuss this with you.).
This surgery can take as long as four hours, or be as short as 30 minutes, depending on the degree of sinus involvement.
Healthcare providers use general or local anesthesia when they do sinus surgery. General anesthesia means you're unconscious and don't feel any pain. People who have local anesthesia may feel pressure during surgery but typically don't feel any pain. They may have mild to moderate pain for about a week after surgery.
You will probably be able to return to work or school in about 1 week and to your normal routine in about 3 weeks. But this varies with your job and the extent of your surgery. Most people feel normal in 1 to 2 months. You will have to visit your doctor regularly for 3 to 4 months after your surgery.
Sleeping: Please sleep with the head on two elevated pillows to decrease nasal congestion and bleeding from the nose. If you have been prescribed a CPAP machine, do not use until your doctor says it is safe; sleep in a recliner chair with your head elevated in the meantime.
You may have some bruises around your nose and eyes. Your nose may be sore and will bleed. This may last for several days after surgery. The tip of your nose and your upper lip and gums may be numb.
In the presence of a sinus infection, there is a small risk of developing a more complicated infection like an abscess or meningitis. All operations in the sinuses and nose carry a rare chance (about 0.1%) of creating a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Light walking and regular household activities are acceptable anytime after surgery. You may resume exercise at 50% intensity after one week and at full intensity after two weeks. You should plan on taking one week off from work and ideally have a half-day planned for your first day back.
HOSPITAL STAY: Sinus surgery in children and adults is usually done as an out-patient and does not require an overnight hospital stay. On occasion, a patient may need to stay overnight.
This minimally invasive procedure may be used to remove polyps within the nose, tumors, or other obstructions that interfere with airflow and sinus drainage. Septoplasty. This procedure is used to treat problems with the septum, the thin wall of bone and cartilage that divides the nose into two chambers.
A breathing tube will then be placed through the mouth. During surgery the patient will be kept completely asleep by breathing gas through this tube under the supervision of an anesthesiologist. Heart rhythm, blood pressure and oxygen levels will be closely monitored throughout the operation.
Most nasal operations take place as day case procedures and you can leave hospital a few hours after the procedure. If you have other health problems or are having complex procedure performed, an overnight stay may be required.
Good candidates for sinus surgery include patients who have: Chronic sinusitis. Deviated septum. Nasal or sinus polyps.
Orbital involvement in endoscopic sinus surgery occurs in 0.5%64 to 3% of all procedures, and represents 16% to 50% of all complications. Most common risks encountered in endoscopic sinus surgery include bleeding, infection, injury to the eye and its adnexa, cerebrospinal fluid leak, anosmia etc.
Other risks: Other uncommon risks of surgery include alteration of sense of smell or taste; persistence and/or worsening of sinus symptoms and facial pain; change in the resonance or quality of the voice; and swelling or bruising of the area around the eye.
You may have symptoms like a severe cold or a sinus infection. This is due to swelling, dry blood, mucus, and crusting in your nose. To help your nose and sinuses return to normal, your doctor may recommend nasal irrigation or saline sprays and antibiotic lubricants.
Sneezing can cause further trauma to the fragile, yet sensitive nose and compromise the procedure's results. If possible, avoid sneezing through your nose for the first week or two during recovery to reduce pressure in your nose and airways to keep the sutures intact and minimize bleeding, swelling, and pain.
For the first week following surgery you should not blow your nose. In addition, you should not bend, strain, or lift more than 20 lbs. during the first week. Light walking and regular household activities are acceptable anytime after surgery.
Instead, patients may find relief from rhinoplasty congestion by using a gentle saline spray. On average, patients can expect breathing through the nose after rhinoplasty to feel more comfortable after 1 – 3 weeks, though some patients may have a feeling of nasal congestion for several months.
You may wash your face being careful to only cleanse the area surrounding the area around the nasal tape/splint. You may shower 2 days after surgery. If you shower, use a dry washcloth or plastic wrap over splint/tape. Please shower or bathe using only lukewarm water for first 2 weeks after surgery.
Preparing Nasal Surgery
Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, Vitamin E, herbal supplements or any medications containing these compounds for two weeks before surgery.
In addition, you should avoid taking the following medications for at least fourteen days prior to surgery: aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil), naproxen (Aleve), other non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), vitamin E (multivitamin is OK), gingko biloba, garlic (tablets), and ginseng.