What are the functions of Paranasal Sinuses?
The cavities opening to the nasal cavity in the skull are called sinuses (paranasal sinuses). There are four types of sinus cavities in total;
• Cheek sinuses (maxillary sinus),
• Forehead sinus (frontal sinus),
• Sinuses between the eyes (ethmoid sinuses)
• Intracranial sinus (sphenoid sinus).
The mucosa covering the inner surface of the nose also covers the inside of the sinuses and the glands in the mucosa produce mucus. Sinuses have missions such as clearing the breathing air, moistening it, heating it, lightening the weight of the head, and characterizing our voice.
When is En doscopic Sinus Surgery necessary?
Endoscopic sinus surgery Turkey attracts many patients worldwide. Endoscopic sinus surgery is generally preferred in cases such as chronic sinusitis, nasal and sinus polyps, fungal sinusitis that are refractory, i.e. treatment with medicines.
In many patients, sinusitis can be successfully treated medically including antibiotic therapy and other concunitanat drugs, allergy treatment and environmental control. The type of medical treatment used may differ depending on the cause.
However, in some patients, sinusitis treatment requires surgical intervention. Inflammation of the sinuses either does not resolve with medical treatment or often recurs. Most of these patients have nasal chamber curvatures, nasal sinus polyps, and concha problems causing drug-resistant sinusitis through disrupting the aeration of the sinuses.
Additionally, severe viral nasal infections or conditions where the immune system is weakened can lead to the development of sinusitis. Treatment of some nasal and sinus cancers is also done with endoscopic sinus surgery.
Can those who have sinusitis have rhinoplasty surgery?
How is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery performed?
Endoscopic sinus surgery is usually a surgery performed under general anesthesia, and patients are often eligible to go home on the same day. Endovision system is used to view the diseased or problematic areas in the nasal cavity and sinuses.
Endoscopic sinus surgery is a minimally invasive surgical treatment method using thin lens systems and camera systems that transfer the image to the screen. The sinuses can be seen directly, diseased or tissues that disrupt ventilation can be removed, and the pathways of the paranasal sinuses opening to the nose can be expanded to improve sinus ventilation.
The doctor who will perform endoscopic sinus surgery must have knowledge and experience as the sinuses are adjacent to vital organs such as the eyes and the brain.
How is the recovery process after the Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?
It is normal to have a gradually decreasing amount of mild bloody discharge during the first 3-5 days after endoscopic sinus surgery. Pressure and mild pain may occur in the nose and sinuses during the first few days after sinusitis surgery.
You should avoid cleaning your nose in a strong manner in the first week after surgery. Starting to wash sinuses with sinus wash kits two days after the sinusitis surgery speeds up your recovery process. These washes have critical importance for the success after the sinus surgery. 2 weeks after the surgery, you can do routine exercises.
What are the technological innovations used in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?
1. Computer-Assisted Sinus Surgery (Surgical Navigation)
Navigation systems are devices showing the anatomy of the intervention site in three dimensions during sinus surgery on the sinus tomography of the patient, which significantly increase the chance of success of the surgery by providing that both sinus surgery is safely performed and that all diseased areas are safely reached.
2. Balloon Sinuplasty
This technique is used in limited diseases including forehead, cheeks, and sphenoid sinuses. Special balloon catheters are used for this task and after the catheter enters the sinus, the balloon is inflated in the mouth of the sinus.
Then the sinus is vented so that the sinuses are drained without removing any tissue. Since there is no risk of complications and it generates minimum tissue trauma, it is a useful technique in appropriate situations.
The procedure is minimally invasive, it does not involve cutting or removing nasal tissues or bone, therefore, the recovery time is short. Most people can go home a few hours after balloon sinuplasty surgeries and return to their daily activities 24 to 48 hours later.
