There are 4 pairs of sinuses in our skull which are important for the creation of sound and voice as well as production of mucus to moisturise the inside of our nose and nasal passages.  This mucus layer protects the nose from bacteria, dust and pollutants.  For the sinuses to be healthy, there must be good ventilation through the openings (ostia) into the nose to allow air into the sinuses and mucus to drain out of the sinuses.  When these openings are blocked, there is an increased risk of infection or inflammation known as sinusitis. 

Indications for Sinus Surgery

• Chronic sinusitis
• Nasal polyps

Click Capital Otolaryngology video on FESS Surgery

Goal of FESS Surgery

The surgery aims to remove the blockage, restore normal ventilation and mucus drainage from the sinuses.  The success rate of providing symptom relief ranges from 80-90% depending the your condition.  Some people may still experience some symptoms after surgery and most of these symptoms are mild and can usually be tolerated.

Potential Complications are rare and they include;

• Orbital haematoma
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from the base of skull
• Infection
• Optic nerve damage with some visual loss
• Eye muscle damage with double vision symptoms

Post-operative Care

It is normal to have some nose bleeds during the first few days after the surgery.  You may need to change your gauze bandages several times a day as your nose heals because of minor bleeding and mucus.

DON’T blow your nose hard

DON’T take Aspirin or NSAID (these medications may cause bleeding)

DON’T engage in contact sports or lift heavy objects

DO cough with your mouth open

DO take some analgesia such as Paracetamol, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or COX-2 inhibitor (Celebrex)

DO take gentle exercises like walking

DO take time off work

DO nasal irrigation as directed by your doctor

Click NeilMed video on Sinus Rinse

Discuss the treatment options with your ENT doctor for your sinus condition

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If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.