Sinus endoscopy surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that removes blockages in the sinus cavities. Other common terms for this procedure include endoscopy, endoscopic sinus surgery, and sinoscopy. It successfully relieves nasal blockages and associated facial pain. It can help ease difficulty breathing, smelling, and tasting caused by the blockages. The procedure is used to correct sinusitis and a deviated septum and removes polyps and tumors.
An endoscopy is often associated with the colonoscopy, used to diagnose and treat disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Sinus endoscopy surgery, however, refers to a similar procedure, except instead of the endoscope entering the throat or colon, it enters through the nasal cavities. The endoscope shines a light into the various parts of the sinuses to identify and remove blockages with surgical instruments.
Sinus endoscopy surgery is technically a type of surgery, but it doesn't involve any cutting of the skin like traditional types of surgery. The entire procedure is done through the nostrils with long flexible instruments. It is a relatively new procedure that serves as an alternative to traditional surgery. This procedure is not only less invasive than previous methods, but it also allows easier access to parts of the face that were otherwise very difficult to reach. It was first introduced to the medical field in the 1960s, but wasn't widely accepted in the United States until the 1980s.
Sinus endoscopy surgery is a great option for people who suffer from chronic nasal problems caused by mucous blockages. It can remove the source of the blockage once it is located, which can relieve pain from the pressure of the blockage. If the blockage was bad enough to impair breathing, this procedure can improve breathing as well as sense of taste and smell.
This procedure can correct sinusitis, which is an infection caused by mucous buildup. Sinus endoscopy surgery can also correct a deviated septum, which occurs when the cartilage separating the right and left side of the nose is crooked. Polyps and tumors can also be identified and removed using this procedure.
Sinus endoscopy surgery is very effective, with 80 to 90 percent of people reporting a significant reduction of symptoms post surgery. It provides a solution to the widespread problem of sinusitis, affecting nearly 14 percent of the American population, or 35 million people. The solution, however, is limited and is not effective in treating allergies triggered by air-borne particles. The treatment can offer temporary relief by reducing mucous buildup, but the allergic reaction will be triggered again as soon as the person comes in contact with the irritant.