WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about functional endoscopic sinus surgery? Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) removes tissue that blocks your sinus openings. How do I prepare for surgery? Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. He may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. He will tell you what medicines to take or not take on the day of your surgery. What will happen during surgery? You will be given local anesthesia or general anesthesia to make you sleep during surgery. An endotracheal tube connected to a breathing machine may be put into your mouth to help you breathe during surgery. Your healthcare provider will pass an endoscope and other small tools through your nostrils. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end. Your healthcare provider will then remove any tissue that is blocking your sinus openings. A small rotating burr may also be used to widen your sinuses or scrape away tissue. Samples of the tissues that are removed may be sent to the lab for tests. Your healthcare provider will control bleeding using a special device that seals blood vessels. Nasal packing, such as gauze or cotton, will be placed in your nostrils to prevent infection and control bleeding. What are the risks of surgery? Problems may happen during FESS that may lead to more surgery. Your eyes, blood vessels, nerves, or your brain and its covering may get injured during surgery. You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. You could also have trouble breathing. Even after surgery, you may develop rhinosinusitis again. |