What is Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS)?

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nose and sinuses using endoscopes and CT scans. FESS is not one operation, but a number of diagnostic and treatment procedures done with the help of rigid nasal endoscopes. FESS is a procedure to open up sinus air cells and sinus ostia (the opening that connects a sinus to the nasal cavity) with an endoscope.

Procedure

Patient is administered with general anaesthetic.

A plastic tube is put through the mouth into the trachea (windpipe) so that the patient can breathe during the operation.

The surgery is done through the nostrils.

An angled telescope with a powerful light to see around corners is used.

The sinus openings will be enlarged and anything blocking the sinuses, such as swollen mucosa or polyps, will be removed.

Other procedures such as septoplasty (procedure done to straighten the nasal septum) and LASER vaporization of inferior turbinates are also done during FESS.

I case if there is a need for stitches, they will be internal and self-dissolving.

A pack (sponge dressing) is kept in each nostril to soak up any blood. This is kept in for a few hours.

No of days for the operation

FESS operations take less than an hour to do.

If the patient has undergone an afternoon operation it will normally stay in overnight, and if he/she has a morning operation it may be removed in the afternoon.

RISKS OF SURGERY

Bleeding

Failure to cure the problem or recurrent disease. In this case, consequent medical or surgical therapy might be required.

Bloody post nasal discharge may occur for approximately two weeks after this procedure. This is normal and slowly improves. Patient should not blow nose for about 5 days after the procedure.

All operations on the ethmoid sinus carry a rare chance of creating a leak of spinal fluid

A very rare case of loss of vision

Blood transfusion is rarely required. If required it carries a risk of transfer of infection

Numbness or discomfort in the upper front teeth may occur for a period of time after some procedures.

Occasionally some swelling, bruising or temporary numbness of the lip, or swelling or bruising of the area around the eye may occur.

Decreased sense of smell.