Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
Feature summary
The purpose of functional endoscopic sinus surgery is to create the patency of paranasal sinus and improve the mucociliary clearance so that patients with rhinosinusitis can have ameliorated symptoms and better quality of life.
Overview
Rhinosinusitis can be divided into acute (less than 3 months) and chronic (more than 3 months) based on the symptom duration. The usual causes of rhinosinusitis include infection, inflammation, allergy. These will cause blockage of nasal passage and impaired mucociliary clearance. Patients may have nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, facial pain, and olfactory dysfunction. If medical therapy fail, patients may need the functional endoscopic sinus surgery to solve this disease.
Features
Different from traditional sinus surgery, such as Caldwell-Luc operation, there will be no need to make any incisions on the skin or oral mucosa during the functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The functional endoscopic sinus surgery will be performed via nostrils. It can lessen post-op facial swelling and pain. Besides, most patients can be discharged one day after the functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
Procedure
After anesthesia, surgeons will use endoscopes to visualize the surgical field and surgical instruments to remove the lesion. Depending on the disease severity, maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, sphenoid sinus, and frontal sinus may be cleared. Bacterial of fungal culture may be performed if needed. The goal of functional endoscopic sinus surgery is to maintain the patency of paranasal sinus. Navigation system may be applied for the aid of the surgery if there is complicated anatomy. At the end of the surgery, adequate hemostasis will be performed. Nasal packing will be inserted into the sinonasal cavity for wound compression.
Notification
Patients should avoid heavy exercise within one to two weeks after surgery. The risks and complications include bleeding, orbital injury, impaired vision, intracranial injury, CSF leakage, intracranial infection, etc. There is still possibility of recurrence after the functional endoscopic sinus surgery.
Estimated Cost
For estimated medical costs, please contact International Medical Services Center.