Endoscopic surgery
While there are many different surgeries performed to help clear sinus issues, the nasal endoscopic surgery is the least invasive of all the options. What does endoscopic mean? It means the doctor is using an endoscope for surgery. An endoscope is a medical device inserted into a small body cavity, like the nose or mouth, with a small camera at the end. The camera serves as a set of eyes for the medical staff to see what’s going on in the areas under question that are otherwise difficult to see.
Endoscopic surgery is not exclusive to ear-nose-throat treatment, but also used for diagnoses and treatments elsewhere throughout the body. For the sake of this post, we will be discussing nasal endoscopic surgery as it refers to sinus issues.
Who qualifies
If your sinus issues are beyond treatment with over-the-counter or prescribed medications, nasal endoscopy surgery is often the next step. However, this is a decision made by a doctor, not an order from a patient. So, it’s important to go through the process of diagnosis and other more informal treatments before moving forward with nasal endoscopic surgery.
People who qualify for this procedure often have a variety of symptoms, if they don’t already have a diagnosis. Some symptoms within the nose and nasal cavity are:
- Blockage
- Polyps
- Tumors
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Congestion
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of smell
A doctor at Breathe Clear Institute does not suggest this procedure lightly, so medical history and on-going symptoms are best to share when making an appointment. Whether it’s a new patient or coming to us from another clinic, we can handle any sinus case and possible nasal endoscopic procedure.
The benefits
The objective of this procedure is to correct or improve whatever symptoms a patient is experiencing. Nasal endoscopic surgery benefits include:
- Low pain levels
- Few to no incisions
- Minimal scarring
- Reduced blood loss
- Low risk of infection
- Short procedure, minimal hospital stay
- Quick recovery period
The long-term benefits certainly outweigh continuing symptoms. But, proper aftercare is required for great and long-lasting results. What are the best practices for post-operative recovery and aftercare? Here are some suggestions:
- Avoid blowing your nose or other straining facial movements
- Use over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin or NSAIDs within reason
- Nasal saline spray or prescribed steroid nasal sprays
- Safe nasal cleansing methods of irrigation
If you are experiencing negative symptoms like constant bleeding, high temperatures, high levels of pain and irritation, noticeable drainage, headache, neck stiffness, or vision impairment, it’s important to notify your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.
We strive to have no negative reactions to surgery, but it is also the duty of the patient to keep the nasal passages clean without irritating the surgical spot and surrounding areas. Any questions about aftercare can be directed to any member of our staff who is just a quick call away.
Schedule an appointment with Breathe Clear Institute
If you’ve been diagnosed with sinus issues that require endoscopic surgery, you’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts and dedicated surgeons have successfully performed this procedure many times with positive results.