Most nasal airway surgeries are performed to improve and restore the natural airway passage of the nose, often done by correcting a misshaped or deviated portion of the septal cartilage and/or reducing swollen tissue from chronic allergies.

Sinus surgeries:

Most sinus surgeries are to open air passages to the sinuses or remove polyps or infected tissue and restore normal air flow to the sinuses.

Commonly, these surgeries involve splinting of the septum or packing of the nose at the end of the procedure.  Your doctor or his nurse will inform you of the timing and details of the removal of this material.

After surgery, you should be at relative bed rest with head elevation.  Use intermittent cold packs to the nose and face.  This is easily done by placing a towel or wash cloth on the face under the bag of frozen peas or frozen corn, or a commercial ice pack.

Take medications as instructed.

Diet should be relatively light and bland for two to three days to avoid nausea.

On the day of packing removal, you should:     

1.      Try to coat your stomach by taking two Maalox tablets as you leave your house, preferably after a light meal.  Bring the remainder of the Maalox tablets with you.                                                                                            

2.      Take one pain pill approximately one hour prior to your visit.  Bring the remainder of your pain medication to this office for the option of taking more pain medication in the office as necessary.

3.      Be prepared to stay approximately one hour and do not attempt to drive yourself.

Expectations:

Follow-up surveys show that 98% of patients feel their quality of life significantly improved after the surgery.  Most patients enjoy a lifelong benefit from this procedure.  It is a “small irony” in most nasal surgeries that  most patients temporarily get worse before they get better.  This means there will likely be a “rebound period” with increased nasal blockage and possibly sinus infection.  It may be accompanied by a sinus headache, crusting, and discharge.  This will be treated as necessary with irrigation and decongestant medication.  It may last from one to (rarely) six weeks.

COMPLICATIONS OF SEPTAL SURGERY INCLUDE BLEEDING, INFECTION, NASAL DISCHARGE, AND (VERY RARELY) SEPTAL PERFORATION.

COMPLICATIONS OF FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY INCLUDE INFECTION, RECURRENCE OF DISEASE, BLEEDING, AND (RARELY) EYE DAMAGE OR CEREBROSPINAL FLUID LEAK.

COMPLICATIONS OF TURBINATE REDUCTION INCLUDE PROLONGED CRUSTING, BLEEDING, INFECTION, AND NASAL DRYNESS.