You will have had a thorough in-depth consultation prior to deciding on sinus surgery and this
will have focused on your symptoms and the problems you're having from your sinuses. We
will have thoroughly evaluated your nose and sinus drainage pathways using a narrow telescope
which is gently passed through the nose and you will have tried multiple treatments in
the forms of medicines for the nose such as sprays and washes. It's likely that if you're
on any blood thinners prior to an operation, we'll stop these to decrease the risk of bleeding
after surgery and usually any treatment you're using in the nose such as the washers or the
sprays can safely be continued in preparation for surgery. Rarely, I do give my patients
a course of medication to decrease the size of polyps which can help accessing the sinuses
at surgery and also decrease bleeding and make recovery more comfortable afterwards.
But apart from that, maintaining good hydration and a balanced diet is also sensible.
The operation for sinus surgery is truly minimally invasive. That means there are no cuts on
the outside. All surgery is conducted through the nostrils and this allows excellent access
to the sinus drainage pathways and the sinuses themselves. Usually, sinus surgery is performed
under general anaesthetic. That's with you fully asleep and takes in the region of one
to two hours. Rarely, sinus surgery can be performed with you awake using fairly new
technology in the form of balloon catheters which can be gently inserted into the drainage
pathways and the drainage pathways widened. With formal sinus surgery, with you asleep,
the surgery involves removing any polyps which may be obstructing your breathing or lessening
your sense of smell. Any inflamed tissue or areas of infection are cleared and the sinus
drainage pathways and openings are gently widened to improve airflow through the nose,
but also to facilitate the delivery of medication; may they be washes or steroid sprays after
the surgery.
After your operation, you will wake up shortly after the operation's finished and you will
be moved to a recovery area where you'll be monitored in the immediate period to ensure
your stables go back to your room on the ward. Once you're back in your room, you will be
looked after by one of my nurses who will check on you periodically. You'll be given
something to eat and make sure you're comfortable from a pain perspective. Pain's usually minimal
after this kind of surgery and certainly straight after surgery your pain will be very well
controlled. But thereafter, pain can be controlled with simple painkillers at home such as paracetamol
or ibuprofen. We will send you home with some stronger medication just to be used in case
the pain is worse. Usually, surgery is performed as a day-case procedure. That means you go
home the same day as the surgery is performed as long as you have someone to pick you up
and look after you overnight. After surgery, it's important that you start using medication
which I give you after the operation the next morning. This will usually be salt water washes
which can be used twice a day, the morning after surgery to clean away the blood or mucus
which may be in the nose. You'll also be given some steroid treatment to apply to the nose
in the form of a spray or a drop which again is started the day after surgery.
After surgery, you can start the nasal washes the morning after surgery. This essentially
helps clear the mucus and any blood which may have collected and dried in the nose and
help you breathe better, recover more quickly. You can also start applying the steroid treatment
in the form of the sprays or the drops that I'll give you after surgery. It's important
to take rest and take it easy after surgery as exerting yourself, coughing, straining
or heavy lifting may cause you to have a bleed after surgery. This is certainly the case
for a few days: for three to four days after surgery. Beyond this, exercise usually is
not recommended for the first two weeks and then after that you can gradually return to
normal exercise levels up to four weeks after surgery. You'll need around seven days off
work. Although, you can start working from home if that's an option around three to four
days after surgery. Flying is limited to ten days after surgery and of course if there
are any issues in the period after surgery you can always contact me and I can address
those either on the telephone, via email or in person.
Yes. After sinus surgery, I typically see my patients around four weeks after surgery.
This allows time for the swelling in the lining of the nose to settle and for the nose to
start opening up and start functioning normally. It also allows time for the medication which
you will have been given after the surgery such as the washers and the sprays does take
effect. At the appointment when I see you after surgery, I will, again, review your
symptoms but also importantly directly visualize the inside of your nose using the fibre-optic
camera in clinic to ensure that recovery is proceeding as expected. Of course, if there
are any issues prior to your routine follow-up appointment, I would like to be contacted
and I can either address any questions you may have via the telephone or on email but,
you know, if there are any other concerns then I would usually see you in person just
to ensure that any of those concerns are addressed.