Sinus Surgery
(Patient Instructions)

• What are the risks and complications of sinus surgery?
• What happens before the surgery?
• What takes place the day of the surgery?
• What happens during surgery?
• What happens after surgery?
• General Instructions and Follow-Up Care
• When should I notify the doctor?

The following information is provided to help you prepare for sinus surgery and to help you understand more clearly the associated benefits, risks, and complications. You are encouraged to ask your doctor any questions that you feel necessary to help you better understand the above procedure.

Sinus surgery involves the precise removal of diseased sinus tissue with the improvement in the natural drainage channels by the creation of a pathway for infected material to drain from the sinus cavities. In most situations, your doctor will employ endoscopic techniques which allow better and more precise visualization without the need for external incisions. As a result, there is less swelling, bleeding, and discomfort than with conventional external surgery and a faster recovery.

Sinus surgery, unlike other types of surgery where a diseased part or organ is removed, involves the re-routing of existing sinus pathways. It cannot be emphasized more strongly that post-operative care is as equally important as the surgery itself. One of the most common causes of failure of this procedure is poor post-operative care and follow-up. Your doctor can only do so much. It is up to the patient to share in the responsibility of caring for chronic illness. The following instructions are designed to help you recover from sinus surgery as easily as possible. Taking care of yourself can prevent complications. It is very important that you read these instructions and follow them carefully.

What are the risks and complications of sinus surgery?

The following complications of sinus surgery have been reported in the medical literature. This list is not meant to be inclusive of every possible complication. It is here for your information only - not to frighten you - but to make you aware and more knowledgeable concerning potential aspects of sinus surgery.

• Failure to resolve the sinus infections or recurrence of sinus problems and/or polyps.
• Bleeding. In very rare situations, a need for blood products or a blood transfusion. You have the right, should you choose, to have autologous (using your own stored blood) or designated donor blood prepared in advance in case an emergency transfusion is necessary. You are encouraged to consult with your doctor regarding these issues if you are interested.
• Chronic nasal drainage or excessive dryness or crusting of the nose.
• Need for further and more aggressive surgery.
• Need for allergy evaluation, treatments, or environmental controls. Surgery is not a cure for or a substitute for good allergy control or treatment.
• Failure to improve or resolve concurrent respiratory illness such as, but not limited to, asthma, bronchitis, or cough.
• Failure to resolve associated "sinus or nasal" headaches. The exact cause of headaches can be difficult to determine or have many different causes.
• You may require consultation with another specialist such as a neurologist.
• Damage to the eye and its associated structures (very rare).
• Damage to the skull base with resultant meningitis, brain abscess, or leakage of spinal fluid (very rare).
• Permanent numbness of the upper teeth, palate, or face.
• Nasal obstruction due to failure to control infection or polyps.
• Prolonged pain, impaired healing, and the need for hospitalization.
• Failure to restore or worsening of the sense of smell or taste.

Next: What happens before the surgery? »

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