Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Effective?
From a deviated septum to chronic sinusitis, there are many reasons someone might be dealing with nasal obstruction. Certain conditions such as allergies or chronic sinusitis can often be managed non-surgically with medications such as steroid nasal sprays; however, patients dealing with structural abnormalities or conditions that aren’t responding to nonsurgical treatments may need to consider getting endoscopic sinus surgery in order to fix the obstruction.
What is the goal of endoscopic sinus surgery?
First and foremost, our otolaryngologist Dr. Creed Mamikunian will work with you to find non-surgical solutions to help you manage nasal swelling and other issues that could be impacting your breathing. Only when we’ve exhausted these options will we recommend surgery.
The purpose of endoscopic sinus surgery is to improve airflow through the nasal cavity and to alleviate your symptoms. As a result, this can also reduce the number of sinus infections you experience throughout the year.
What happens during endoscopic sinus surgery?
Traditional sinus surgery requires making incisions and sometimes bone or tissue removal, which equates to a more invasive surgical procedure and a longer recovery period. Luckily, here at Alaska Sinus Center, our ENT team is able to offer a less invasive procedure that is designed to remove blockages within the sinuses with fewer side effects and a quicker, easier recovery.
What should I expect from endoscopic sinus surgery?
This procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia, so the patient will be asleep during the surgery. Once the patient is under the effects of anesthesia, our surgeon will insert a thin flexible tube with a camera at the end (the endoscope) into the sinuses. The camera allows our surgeon to see what’s going on within the sinuses to determine what’s causing the blockage.
From there, special tools are used to remove the source of the blockage, whether it’s the result of nasal polyps, scar tissue, etc. These same tools can also be used to straighten a deviated septum in order to improve airflow to both nasal passages. Unlike traditional sinus surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery does not require any cutting. This is a simple outpatient procedure, which means that patients can go home the very same day.