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Complications From Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

As with all surgeries, there is risk of complications from sinus surgery. The complications from functional endoscopic sinus surgery are slight, but both minor or, in rare cases, major complications are possible.

  1. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

    • For the majority of sinus problems, surgery is not required; a combination of medical treatments, including antibiotics, is usually sufficient for treating a sinus condition. However, in a few cases surgery is required, due to conditions such as infection or an inflamed area that does nor respond to other forms of treatment.

    Goals

    • The goal of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is to open widely the long, narrow channels of the sinuses. The usual need for FESS follows a swelling or inflammation of the sinus lining.

    The Endoscope

    • A rigid optical telescope called an endoscope is introduced to the sinuses to view the nasal cavity and sinuses, eliminating the need for any external incision.

    General Complications

    • Any sinus surgery carries the risk of bleeding, but FESS does though reduce this risk. If persistent bleeding does occur, the procedure is abandoned and nasal packing applied to halt the bleed. In some cases a numbing of the upper front teeth can occur for a short period following surgery. There is also the chance that the procedure will fail. If FESS is used to treat allergies, the condition will not be cured, merely relieved for a period of time.

    Swelling & Bruising

    • A patient should not blow their nose for five days following an FESS procedure. This can result in air becoming trapped beneath the skin causing swelling and bruising of the upper lip and area beneath the eye.

    Fluid Around The Brain

    • In rare cases, serious complications can occur following FESS. An injury to the lining of the brain is common in the approach to the frontal sinus. If the spinal fluid surrounding the brain is ruptured there is the potential for infection. An infection in the fluid around the brain can result in complications such as meningitis, stroke and death.

    Eyes & Vision

    • It is possible for injuries to occur to both the eye and eye muscles, most commonly the medial rectus muscle, during FESS procedures. There are reports of double vision occurring due to damage to eye muscles. In some extreme cases loss of vision has been reported following sinus surgery. Usually this loss of vision only occurs in one eye. Unfortunately, the chances of recovery are not good for vision lost during FESS.

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