Sinus surgery is usually performed to enlarge the openings that drain the sinuses. A patient may choose surgery if other treatments (i.e. medications, nasal sprays, humidifiers, etc.) have failed to alleviate chronic sinus conditions.
Surgery can be performed using various techniques including:
- endoscopic sinus surgery: the doctor uses a thin fiber optic tube to examine the openings of the sinuses and remove abnormal or obstructive tissue
- image-guided surgery: combines CT scans with endoscopic surgery
- Caldwell-Luc operation: a more radical method of removing abscesses from the maxillaries sinus beneath the eye and improving drainage by connecting it to the nose
Usually these procedures are performed on an out-patient basis. Recovery symptoms may include some bruising, swelling, and discomfort.