Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
FESS, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, is a term that encompasses an approach for correction of sinus disease.
Generally, surgery is indicated for:
- Recurrent episodes of acute sinusitis which occur frequently enough to
disrupt your lifestyle.
- Chronic sinusitis unresponsive to antibiotics and/or irrigation of the sinuses.
- Biopsy or removal of a mass or polyp within the sinuses.
These are the main reasons to perform FESS, but occasionally other problems
arise which necessitate this surgery. Generally, a CT scan will be done
before surgery to document which sinuses are affected and also to identify
individual anatomy.
Which sinuses are affected?
The maxillary sinuses are located beneath the cheekbones, above the upper
teeth. The maxillary sinus drains into what is called the osteomeatal
complex, which is an opening on the outer wall of the nasal cavity. The
surgery, a “maxillary antrotomy,” is designed to enlarge this
natural opening and thereby prevent it from swelling shut when the lining
of the nose is inflamed or infected. The procedure is done through the
nose using special endoscopes and small instruments for removing the bone
around the osteomeatal complex. Another area which may need correction
is the ethmoid sinuses. These sinuses are located between your eyes and
are a honeycomb of 13 to 20 individual sinuses, each with its own individual
opening. The ethmoids are opened surgically to create one large cavity
which drains directly down into the nose. This operation is called an
“ethmoidectomy.” Infrequently the frontal sinus, which is
located just behind the center portion of your forehead, also needs to
be opened endoscopically. This sinus drains directly down into the nasal
cavity, usually just in front of where the maxillary sinus drains. The
surgical procedure (frontal sinusotomy) opens the drainage duct more widely
into the nose. The last sinus which is occasionally opened endoscopically
is the sphenoid sinus, which is located in the direct center of the skull.
The sphenoid sinus is opened by removing the front wall of the sinus and
allowing it to drain directly into the nasal passageway. This procedure
is termed “sphenoidotomy.” Frequently a combination of the
different sinuses is involved with the disease process, and often more
than one is opened at a single surgical procedure. Occasionally, however,
only one is involved and is treated individually at the time of the surgery.
What are turbinates?
The turbinates are structures which hang down from the side wall of your
nose into the nasal passageway. Generally there are three to four of these
on either side, and their function is to heat, humidify and filter the
air as you breathe it in through your nose. The middle turbinate on either
side overhangs the area where the ethmoid, maxillary, and frontal sinuses
drain. Sometimes, in order to adequately access the areas for surgery,
a portion of this turbinate must be removed. Removal of a portion of the
turbinates will increase the potential rate of bleeding. The inferior
turbinates are reduced to improve the airway passage to improve breathing.
Various methods to remove/reduce the size of the turbinates exist:
- Excision of the Turbinate
- Laser Reduction of the Turbinates
- Radio-frequency Wave Reduction of the Turbinates
What are the risks of sinus surgery?
- Bleeding
- Blindness
- Eye Muscle Injury
- Spinal Fluid Leak
- Meningitis
These risks are extremely rare and are related to the structures surrounding
the sinuses, namely the Eye and the Brain.
The risk of bleeding severely enough to require further packing after surgery
is somewhere between one percent (1%) and five percent (5%). Some bleeding
is expected after sinus surgery, but rarely it may require a return to
the operating room for control. Preoperatively your surgeon will do an
examination to determine if this procedure is appropriate for you. Because
bleeding is a risk, we ask that you not take aspirin-containing products
for at least ten days prior to your surgical procedure. We would like
you not to take Advil, Nuprin, ibuprofen, Motrin, or similar arthritis
drugs for 3-5 days before surgery.
What should I expect after the surgery?
Postoperatively you should not undergo any strenuous exertion, straining,
vigorous nose blowing, or heavy lifting for two to three weeks after your
surgery is performed. Generally, most people find that they have some
discomfort for the first week or so after surgery after which it becomes
markedly decreased. Your doctor will probably put you on antibiotics as
well as postoperative pain medications and will also have you begin irrigating
with salt water (saline) solution in order to minimize crusting in the
nose. Normally, your doctor DOES NOT place packing in the nose. If you
do, this will be removed in 3-5 days postoperatively. You will also need
to come back to the office postoperatively on a regular basis in order
to keep the openings which we create surgically open and patent.
What are the chances of success?
After the sinuses are completely healed, there is an 80 to 95% chance that
your sinus problems will be significantly better. One exception to this
is patients who have aspirin sensitivity, asthma, and nasal polyps, who
tend to have a higher rate of recurrent nasal sinus problems.