What is sinusitis?

Sinusitis is a condition that leaves your sinuses inflamed. The sinuses produce mucus that drains into the nose. When the nasal passages are swollen, mucus backs up and causes pressure and, occasionally, an infection.

The types of sinusitis are categorized by the frequency of the condition:

• Acute sinusitis lasts less than one month.
• Chronic sinusitis lasts longer than 12 weeks.
• Recurrent sinusitis happens several times per year.

When does the doctor recommend sinus surgery?

Dr. Vazquez may suggest sinus surgery in the following situations:

• You suffer from chronic sinusitis
• You experience recurrent infections
• Your infections are non-responsive to medication
• Your doctor identifies a malignancy in the sinuses

If all other treatments don’t help, you may choose surgery to enlarge the sinus passages. Most sinusitis surgeries involve minimally invasive, in-office procedures.

What happens during a pre-surgery workup?

If Dr. Vazquez doesn’t already have your full medical history, he records it in your records. Next, he performs an exam to determine the cause of your sinusitis and assess your readiness for surgery.

After identifying the cause of your sinusitis, Dr. Vazquez performs further testing to examine all the factors that influence your condition. These medical tests may include the following:

• A CT scan
• Nasal physiology
• A smell test
• Blood labs

Dr. Vazquez offers in-house CT scans to check for sinus obstructions and to guide the surgery.

What surgery options do you offer?

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)

Dr. Vazquez inserts a tiny fiber-optic camera into your nose to look for obstructions. Next, he uses micro-instruments to remove those obstructions from the sinuses. This outpatient procedure causes very little discomfort and requires very little recovery time.

Image-guided surgery

Using the same technology the United States Armed Forces, image-guided surgery uses a 3D mapping system from CT scans and infrared signals to guide the surgical instruments. Dr. Vazquez often uses this type of surgery for men, women, and children with unusual or altered sinus anatomy.

Caldwell Luc operation

Named after two enterprising physicians, this surgery involves cutting a window to connect the sinus cavity below the eye to the nose. This window improves drainage when you have chronic sinusitis, especially when there is a malignancy in the sinuses.

If you suffer from frequent sinus infections, discover your sinus surgery options at Elite ENT. Call the center or use the online booking appointment to set up a consultation.