Sinusitis
here are four pairs of sinuses around the nose: maxillary, ethmoid,
frontal and sphenoid. If the mucosal lining in any of the sinuses becomes irritated
or inflammed, it begins to swell and weep. If the weeping fluids cannot drain properly
and become stagnant, infection can follow. Patients then complain of headache,
post-nasal drainage, stuffiness, and fever.
Acute sinusitis is any infection that last less than three weeks. The sinus lining and drainage reverts back to normal, and no permanent injury results. In chronic sinusitis, however, the lining is destroyed, normal drainage mechanisms become ineffective, and infection recurs frequently. It is the sinus' ability to drain itself that is the key to its staying healthy.
In most people, sinus infections are very adequately treated with antibiotics and decongestants. In allergy-prone patients, a steroid nasal spray may also be needed. In those unfortunate patients who develop true chronic sinusitis, surgery is often necessary.
The surgery may involve a septoplasty to straighten the inside of the nose and improve breathing, nasoantral windows to facilitate sinus drainage, and turbinectomies to relieve obstruction. The surgery leaves no external scars or bruising and is done under general anesthesia in the hospital. Patients are discharged the same day and will often return to work within a week.
Other Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeries:
|Nasal Airway Obstruction|
|Sinusitis|
|Tonsils and Adenoids|