If you’re suffering from chronic sinusitis and have exhausted all medical treatment options, your doctor may recommend a surgical procedure known as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). This involves using an endoscope – a tube with a tiny camera attached – to guide a surgeon in removing extraneous tissue to open up the nasal passages.
What Is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is a common condition where the tissues that line the sinuses become swollen and inflamed. This traps fluid inside and promotes germ growth, causing an infection. Many factors can cause sinusitis including nasal polyps, deviated septum, respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign objects in the nose and additional medical conditions.
Chronic sinusitis results in a variety of cold-like conditions including congestion, runny nose, facial pain and pressure, loss of smell, fever, fatigue and dental pain. It is considered chronic when symptoms last eight weeks or longer.
Treatment for chronic sinusitis involves medications such as decongestants, antihistamines, nasal sprays, oral steroids and antibiotics. Home remedies – using a humidifier, inhaling hot steam, a warm compress – often help relieve pain and discomfort. Sometimes, these treatments aren’t enough to clear up chronic infections. In those instances, your doctor might turn to surgery.
Call Texas ENT & Allergy at (877) 377-4368 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
