What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is inflammation and infection of the sinuses. Sinuses are air-filled spaces present at the sides and behind the nose. Normally the sinuses open into the nose and drain sputum into the nose. In case of infection and blockage, the sinuses get filled with sputum.
How do I know that I have sinusitis?
The symptoms of sinusitis include Headache, fever, nose block, and yellow/greenish nasal discharge.
Can it be treated?
Yes, a mild form of sinusitis can be treated with a course of antibiotics, nasal sprays and antihistamines.
In the severe form of acute sinusitis, the sinuses are usually completely filled with mucous and the outlet to the nose is blocked by swelling of the nasal structures. In such cases, to prevent the infection from spreading to the eye and brain, the pus should be surgically drained.
What is the surgical treatment?
It is known as FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery)
This procedure is, not as complicated as it sounds. It is an endoscopic procedure, which means that there will not be any facial incisions or scars.
The patient is admitted to the hospital for 4-5 days and given a course of intravenous antibiotics. Nasal decongestants are given to reduce the swelling inside the nose. Fever is treated symptomatically.
If acute sinusitis does not come down with these medical measures, the sinuses are drained with an endoscope (thin torch-like structure). No incision is made over the face.
How many days to recover?
Postoperatively, intravenous antibiotics will have to be continued for a couple of days, till the pus discharge from the nose stops.
What is Chronic Rhinosinusitis?
Chronic Rhinosinusitis is a long-term inflammation of the nose and the sinuses. It presents as 1-2 episodes of cold per month, every episode of cold lasts for a long time, and the patient may have a chronic headache or nose block even in the absence of a cold. The patient may have post nasal drip which can cause recurrent sore throats and voice change.
Chronic Rhino-sinusitis can be treated with long-term use of nasal steroid sprays, and nasal decongestants. In case the medical management does not work, the patient has to undergo functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). It is a minimally invasive nasal surgery done with the help of an endoscope.
No facial or nasal incisions are made. The surgery involves minimally altering the intra-nasal anatomy to allow the mucus from the sinuses to drain into the nose and prevent blockage of the sinuses.
Know your Doctor
Dr Deeksha is well-trained in sinus surgery. She has attended workshops by world leaders in this field in Graz, Austria.
