What is Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Our nose is the most sensitive and vital sensory organ of the human body. Often, there are times when most people are prone to nose diseases and sinusitis, or sinus is one of them. To treat this condition, ENT specialists perform functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). It is a minimally invasive surgery that is used to treat chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps. If you want to understand more about FESS, keep reading this blog to learn more about endoscopic sinus surgery, its recovery, and things related to this surgery.

What is Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is performed to treat sinusitis. Your healthcare providers operate on your sinus conditions through your nostrils. This simply means there will be no cuts or incisions inside or around your nose that can leave visible scars. It is also termed endoscopic sinus surgery.

Types of Sinus Surgery

There are several types of sinus surgery. Based on your condition, your healthcare provider will recommend the appropriate surgery among the following:

• Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
• Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery
• Turbinate Reduction (Turbinoplasty)
• Image-Guided Sinus Surgery
• Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
• Septoplasty
• Revision Sinus Surgery

What’s the need for Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)?

Your ENT surgeon may recommend this surgery if the mucus doesn’t drain from your sinus or nasal cavity in its normal form. Moreover, you may observe nasal obstruction, which can be painful and make breathing difficult. In such scenarios, for immediate relief, you can take over-the-counter medicines (OTC) or nasal sprays. Even if the issues persist, you must consult your doctor and take the next steps forward as prescribed, such as surgery or remedies with medicines. FESS surgery is recommended in the following conditions:

• Severe Sinusitis
• Sinus Infections
• Nasal Polyps
• Growth of Abnormal Cells or Tumors in your Sinuses

This surgery is performed to treat the abnormalities present at the base of your skull and solves the issues of brain leakage or cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Cost of Functional Endoscopic Surgery

The cost of FESS surgery is highly dependent on factors like city, hospital type, and severity of the condition, with major cities like Delhi and Mumbai often on the higher end. Here is the tabular representation of the same:

Basis	Estimated FESS Surgery Cost
Average Cost	Rs. 71,000 – Rs. 80,000
Minimum Cost	Rs. 38,950 – Rs. 45,000
Advanced Cost	Rs.1,04,500 – Rs. 1,50,00

How You Can Prepare for FESS

Preparing for functional endoscopic sinus surgery is possible under medical guidance from your doctor. You will understand what measures you need to take and precautions to follow for timely treatment. Here are some common measures you must follow:

• Avoid smoking three weeks before surgery: If you are a passive smoker, your sinus may get worse; therefore, try to avoid it before your sinus surgery date.
• Stop taking Aspirin: You need to stop taking Aspirin as it increases the chances of bleeding during or after the surgery.
• Restrain eating at midnight before the surgery date: This advice is given to prevent complications related to getting general anesthesia.
• Travel with your family or trusted friends: After the surgery, you should not drive by yourself, as it is risky. Always travel with a reliable person from your family or friends’ group who can pick you up and drop you off safely.

What Happens During the FESS

In the functional endoscopy sinus surgery, your healthcare expert will utilise a thin tube with small surgical tools to operate in your sinuses. The tube is particularly known as a nasal endoscope. Here is a step-by-step procedure of what happens during the FESS surgery:

• Step 1: You will be given general anesthesia, so you don’t feel any pain.
• Step 2: Your healthcare provider will place decongestant medicines in your nose to clear out your sinuses.
• Step 3: Insert a numbing solution into your nose.
• Step 4: Ensure the endoscope is inserted correctly into your nose.
• Step 5: Utilise the tools to remove bone, diseased tissue or polyps blocking your sinuses.

Later, your surgeon may scrape the tissue. Additionally, an ENT specialist can cover the nose with material to absorb any blood or discharge. However, not all surgeries require it.

Duration of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Procedure

The duration of functional endoscopic sinus surgery is up to three hours. However, it may take longer depending on the patient’s condition and the severity of the disease.

Potential Risks of FESS

FESS is the standard procedure for treating sinusitis. There are very few risks attached to this surgery, but patients can observe complications if nearby structures are damaged during surgery. The potential risks are as follows:

• Cerebrospinal fluid leak
• Multiple vision or vision loss
• Excessive watery eyes
• Heavy bleeding (including nosebleeds)
• Losing your sense of smell

What Happens after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

After your sinusitis surgery, and as a FESS recovery measure, you will be kept under observation. Here, the medical experts will monitor your situation, and if everything goes well, you will be discharged from the hospital within a day or two. In the initial days, you may encounter slight nose bleeding, stuffiness, or discomfort. For timely recovery, it is advisable to:

• Restrain from blowing your nose for seven days.
• Rinse your nose and sinuses with saline.
• Avoid strenuous activities for a while.
• Follow the medication dose properly as prescribed.

Recovery Time of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

To get a complete recovery from FESS, you need to take adequate rest for a couple of months. Sinus issues demand attention and care, and after completing care, you can get back to your normal or routine activities. In general cases, it is found that many patients resume their routine within two weeks of surgery.

When To Connect with a Healthcare Provider?

Well, most of the patients are unaware of when to connect with their healthcare providers, how they can move further, what precautions to take, and what to avoid. All these questions sum up the need to visit your ENT surgeon after your FESS surgery. Reach out to your doctor in case the symptoms worsen after the surgery, or remove dried mucus or blood from your nose. So, the situation may vary, but it is essential to take continuous follow-up with your healthcare expert.

To Wrap Up