Sinus surgery opens the sinuses to relieve patients of symptoms caused by sinusitis
During FESS, the natural sinus drainage pathways are enlarged for better drainage and ventilation.
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) aims to open and widen the natural sinus drainage pathways into the nose. It is performed under general anaesthetic as a day case. The procedure usually takes thirty to forty five minutes.
A small endoscope is inserted into the nose and the sinus drainage pathways are opened with a powered instrument called a microdebrider. This minimises trauma to the lining of the nose, thus reducing pain and bleeding.
Small nasal dressings are usually left inside the nose for two hours and removed before the patient goes home. Steroid nose drops and antibiotics are usually prescribed afterwards.
Patients are advised to take two weeks off work. It is not advised to fly until at least four to six weeks after surgery.
It is usually necessary to continue to take a regular steroid nasal spray long term after functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
