Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinus disease and nasal congestion affect millions of individuals. The underlying cause is usually a result of inflammation and anatomic obstructions causing a blockage of nasal airflow or sinus drainage – resulting in post nasal drip, nasal congestion/obstruction, chronic sinus pressure, lack of smell. At GNO Snoring and Sinus we focus on both causes of sino-nasal disorders, providing a combined medical and surgical approach to effective treatment.

Case Studies

“I used to suffer from chronic sinus pressure for years. Medications provided temporary relief and I took antibiotics multiple times per year. After undergoing a sinus procedure by Dr. Anand, I am nearly symptom free and no longer require the constant use of medications.” –MB

New Patient Visit

Initial Visit

Patients suffering from sinusitis typically express symptoms of sinus pressure/headache, altered smell, facial pain, dental pain and/or nasal congestion. Depending on the length of your symptoms, these are classified as either acute or chronic. At your initial visit a focused review of your symptoms, duration and medical history is carried out to arrive at a diagnosis.

Workup

In cases of chronic or recurrent sinus disease, nasal endoscopy is performed in the office to further characterize the anatomy of your nasal airway. In certain patients, a previously undiagnosed deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps, large turbinates or other anatomic findings may contribute to your underlying issues. Furthermore, a CAT scan or X-ray of the sinuses may also be recommended to further characterize the anatomy of your sinus region and arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

After arriving at an accurate diagnosis based on your medical history and anatomic findings, medical or procedural treatment is discussed. For patients with acute sinus disease, medical therapy is optimized and tailored to your specific symptoms. For those patients for whom medical therapy has not provided sustained relief and who suffer from recurrent or chronic sinus infections, a discussion of both in-office and surgical treatment options is carried out.

Chronic Sinusitis FAQ

Are in-office treatments available for sinus disease?

Yes. For select patients with recurrent or chronic disease not responsive to medication, in-office dilation of the natural sinus drainage openings is a successful means of treating symptoms. This is typically performed under local anesthesia in about 30 minutes, with little to no downtime afterwards.

How do I know if I suffer from recurrent sinusitis or chronic sinusitis?

Recurrent sinus infections last for only a few weeks and usually respond to medication, however, they tend to recur multiple times per year. Chronic sinusitis can last anywhere from 8-12 weeks despite medical treatment.

How extensive are surgical treatments for sinus disease?

Sinus surgery (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) is performed under general anesthesia in about 30-45 minutes. This is reserved for patients with extensive sinus disease noted on physical exam and CAT scan. Such patients have not achieved relief with medical therapy. The goal is to enter the sinus cavities and remove the sinus disease, followed by enlarging the natural pathways for proper sinus drainage.

What medications are used to treat sinus infections?

A number of medications exist for managing sinusitis. We break these down into abortive medications that handle an acute flare up (antibiotics, steroids) and maintenance medications to control re-emergence of symptoms for those patients suffering from recurrent or chronic disease (saline washes, steroid nasal sprays, compounded nasal sprays, montelukast inhibitors and antihistamines).

What symptoms are associated with sinus infections?

Facial pain/pressure, nasal congestion, lack of smell, dental pain, headache, ear stuffiness and post nasal drip are some of the symptoms routinely associated with sinus infections.

Why do I have dental pain along with my sinus infection?

The teeth on the upper gum line can interact with the floor of the cheek (maxillary) sinuses. It is not uncommon for inflammation of those sinus cavities to cause dental pain.

Will I require packing after surgery? Will I have bruising on my face?

At GNO Snoring and Sinus, we DO NOT use nasal packing after sinus surgery. We believe it does not enhance the post-operative result and only provides significant discomfort for the patient. Surgery is performed with telescopes and small instruments, therefore, there is no visible bruising on the patient’s face, or any visible evidence of surgery for that matter.