Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Sinus surgery is typically an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Not all sinus surgery is the same for everybody since it involves operating on any of the 4-paired sinuses in the face: frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid. Both endoscopic and open techniques may be employed depending on each individual’s needs. There are usually several steps in the procedure, which may involve one or more of the following:

• Septoplasty: Straightening the middle wall of the nose to provide better airflow and to relieve obstruction.
• Antrostomy: Opening the maxillary (cheek) sinus.
• Ethmoidectomy: Opening the sinuses between your eyes.
• Sphenoidotomy: Opening the small sinus in the very back of the nose.
• Frontal Sinusotomy: Opening the forehead sinus.
• Turbinectomy: Trimming the turbinates that are just in front of the sinus openings.
• Caldwell-Luc: Opening the maxillary (cheek) sinus through an approach under the upper lip.

The reasons you should be considering sinus surgery will be discussed with Dr. Speyer prior to scheduling. All of the possible indications are too many to list here and should be reviewed with Dr. Speyer with regards to your specific needs.

Dr. Speyer will discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives to this procedure with you in detail. Listed below are some of the disclosed risks of undergoing a sinus surgery. By reading and signing below, you are stating that you indeed understand the nature of the procedure, the risks as listed, and alternatives to undergoing the procedure.

Risks of septoplasty include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, nasal synechia (scar bands), septal perforation, a decreased sense of smell, temporary front teeth pain and/or numbness, failure to improve nasal stuffiness, nasal crusting, and very rarely a change in the external appearance of the nose.

In addition, the risks of sinus surgery include but are not limited to: failure to improve symptoms with recurring symptoms, the need for additional surgery (10%), and damage to surrounding structures including the nasolacrimal duct which carries tears from the eye to the nose resulting in postoperative epiphora (excessive tears). The following risks to the eye and brain are reported in the medical literature but are considered extremely rare: eye complications include change in vision change or loss; intracranial complications include CSF (spinal fluid) leak and infections required additional treatment and/or surgery to repair.

Lastly, since you are undergoing a general anesthetic, this alone carries its own risks regardless of the surgery considered. The risks of general anesthesia include, but are not limited to, the risk of heart attack, stroke, drug reactions, and even death. You should discuss your specific risks assessment with the anesthesiologist during your preoperative anesthetic appointment.

Back to Home

Meet Dr. Speyer

Services

Make An Appointment