Tell me about: Endoscopic sinus surgery

Hello,

I will be operated on the sinuses to treat chronic sinusitis and I was wondering if anyone has had this done on him, how the surgery went and how successful it was long-term. :) Sinusitis is driving me nuts and surgery seems to be my last and best chance. What are your experiences?

Here's a video of the operation and some information included.
http://www.or-live.com/WFUBMC/1295/event/vrnhigh.cfm

Maybe someone can post personal experiences. :) I do know that the success rate seems to be 80-90% long term, with good post-op care.

Archives of Otolaryngology:

The purpose of functional endoscopic sinus surgery is to reestablish ventilation and mucociliary clearance of the sinuses. This goal is achieved primarily by the endoscopic removal of disease from key areas of the anterior ethmoid and middle meatus. In addition, the technique also offers the possibility of performing sphenoethmoidectomy with preservation of the middle turbinate. Localized irreversible disease in the maxillary sinus may be removed endoscopically with minimal trauma. The technique allows excellent visualization, and results in minimal morbidity and bleeding. Nasal packing is not required, and surgery can usually be performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia.

Journal of Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society:

Fifty-one patients suffering from inverted papillomas of the nose and paranasal sinuses were reexamined in a retrospective study. Thirty-five had undergone surgery by an intranasal endoscopic approach and 16 had undergone surgery by an extranasal approach. The recurrence rate following endoscopic interventions was 17% (6/35), as compared to 19% (3/16) after extranasal operations.

Patients with inverted papillomas will benefit from this surgical technique which remains minimally invasive and thus retains the paranasal bony framework, preserves unaffected mucosa capable of recovery, and prevents damage to the patients' cosmetic features.

+ http://www.laryngoscope.com/pt/re/la...195629!8091!-1

Two hundred fifty patients underwent endoseopic nasal office evaluations and subsequent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (42 unilateral + 208 bilateral = 458 procedures) for nasal polyposis and chronic sinusitis from January 1986 to June 1988. Immediate postoperative data indicated that 8.3% developed minor complications and 0.7% developed major complications. Two hundred twenty-one patients were available for long-term follow-up at 12 to 42 months (mean = 17 months) with success rates of 89.7% for relief of sinonasal polyposis and 80.2% for relief of chronic sinusitis.

+http://www.laryngoscope.com/pt/re/la...195629!8091!-1

Good luck! Seems like you have little to worry about! Let us know how it goes, ok?
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