Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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Introduction
You will have had FESS surgery either for nasal polyps, chronic sinus infection or possibly for recurrent attacks of acute sinusitis.
The operation involves opening the sinus spaces within the roof of the nose and removing polyps or diseased lining and also suctioning away trapped secretions or pus from the sinuses. Openings may have been made into the larger cheek sinuses also.
Nasal packs will be avoided if possible. However, if they are necessary, absorbable biodegradable Nasopore will be used in most cases. These do not need to be removed, but dissolve, with regular nasal irrigation, over 5-10 days following your operation.
You should usually be able to return home on the day of your sinus surgery. If you live alone, have persistent nasal bleeding, or feel nauseous and unwell, you may be kept in hospital overnight.
Post-operative Medication
You will be given a combination of the following treatments following your sinus surgery:
- NeilMed sinus rinse – use this three or four times a day to each side of the nose to loosen mucus and blood clot and to help keep the nose clean. You should blow your nose gently after you have used the spray to help clear the secretions or any retained blood clot or crusting. Start irrigating the nose when you return home after the operation and continue the nasal irrigation for 2-4 weeks after surgery.
- Steroid nose drops – use these twice daily after you have used the saline spray. The drops should be put in with the head back over the edge of the bed so that the drops go up into the sinuses in the roof of the nose and not backwards down into the throat (where they are swallowed and ineffective).
- Steroid tablets – if you have had very severe polyps throughout the sinuses, then you may be given a short course of steroid tablets to take following the operation. These should be taken in the morning, after breakfast and certainly not on an empty stomach. The dosage will reduce every 4-5 days and you should not suffer any side-effects.
- Antibiotics – if the operation was performed for chronic infection or if infected secretions were found during the operation, you may be given some post-operative antibiotics to take for the first 7-10 days following the surgery.
- Painkillers – you will be given appropriate pain killers to take for the first 7 – 10 days after surgery.
Post-operative Review
You will normally be seen about 4 weeks after the surgery to examine the nose. This will be done after the nose has been numbed with an anaesthetic nasal spray. The nose and sinuses will be checked with a telescope to make sure that everything is healing. Almost always the nose needs to be cleaned at the first post-operative visit. This involves using fine suction and/or fine forceps to clear dry blood clot, crusting and scabbing from the nose and also to suction any thick mucous that has become trapped in the sinuses after the operation. This is slightly uncomfortable, but is very rarely painful.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Ear or nose and throat (ENT) service.
About this information
Service:
Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
Reference:
G/008
Approval date:
22 July 2024
Review date:
1 July 2026
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.