Sinus Surgery Complications

It is a fact that sinus is a disease that can be effectively controlled by combination of several methods like medications and administering antibiotics. However, in those cases, where medicines are not working, seeking sinus surgery treatment is a much preferred option. But since no medical surgeries can guarantee cent percent safety, it is ideal to be aware of possible side effects so that the risks can be minimized.

Complications of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

The functional endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is recommended when all traditional treatments for curing sinus headache or other persistent problems related to sinus fail. By the help of endoscope, that is a thin tube with a camera on one end, the endoscopic procedure is performed. The tube is inserted through the nose and the surgeon removes the blockage in the nose cavity using narrow instruments. Some of the common complications related to endoscopic sinus surgery are bleeding and leakage of spinal fluid. Swelling and bruising are immediate effects of sinus surgery in many cases. In several cases of endoscopic functional surgery, complications can spread to eye and it may affect the vision. Some people have reported of double visions post surgery.

Post Sinus Surgery Side Effects

Only after medical treatment fails to cure sinus, sinus surgery must be done. Moreover, patients must be aware about post sinus infection complications. Hence, before choosing sinus surgery, patients must know about the following risks.

Bleeding After the Operation
Generally, before and after surgery, patients consume medications like aspirin, ibuprofen and various supplements like vitamins, garlic etc. Although beneficial, these prescriptions and food increase the tendency for bleeding after the operation. Hence, medical advise is essential before consuming the aforementioned agents. Post operative bleeding is in deed one of the most common side effects of sinus surgery, despite many precautions taken by surgeons.

Anesthesia Problems
Very rarely do anesthesia causes problems as in today's age anesthesiology has improved greatly. Nonetheless, complications due to anesthesiology may include heart and lung problems.

Complications in the Sinus Region
One of the major complications of sinus surgery is the leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the base of the skull. The base skull contains sinuses (air filled cavities in the bones of skull). In case layers of such sinuses are damaged during surgery, cerebrospinal fluid leaks occur in the sinonasal cavity. At the time of initial surgery, this problem may be treated but in case it is left untreated, it can lead to dangerous complications, one of which can be meningitis.

Problems in the Nasal Areas
Sinus surgery has been reported to worsen smelling ability and it also causes nasal obstruction. Conditions like asthma, bronchitis and cough show poor improvement if sinus is also present. There can also be excessive nasal drainage and at the same time, it may lead to dryness or crusting on the surface of nose.

Teeth Numbness
Many people have also reported teeth numbness post surgery that has remained for few days or has susbsided after sometime.

Since this operation is bound to have some risks, patients must be mentally prepared for facing any challenges of the surgery. People suffering from sinus must exercise preventive measures to ensure that they can eliminate the risks involved in sinus surgery. To do that, sinus patients must increase their water intake, must avoid fluids like tea, coffee, alcohol and smoking that dry the body. Saline irrigation is the best option to keep the nasal moisture maximum. Wearing masks and avoiding exposure to dust, dirt and unhygienic places is essential. Most importantly, preventing oneself from cold and flu is essential to keep threats of sinus infections at bay. It has to be understood that sinus surgery complications can't be eliminated totally but we can work on improving sinus conditions by taking suitable precautions.