Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is a procedure used to remove blockages in the sinuses (the spaces filled with air in some of the bones of the skull). Blockages that persist despite maximal medical management can cause sinusitis, a condition in which the sinuses swell and become clogged, causing pain and impaired breathing.
A thin, lighted instrument called an endoscope is inserted into the nose, and the doctor looks inside through an eyepiece. Much like a telescope with a wide-angle camera lens, the endoscope beams light into different parts of the nose and sinuses, allowing Dr. Tseng to see what is causing the blockages. Surgical instruments can then be used along with the endoscope to remove the blockages and improve breathing.
There are no external incisions, and the surgery is performed entirely inside the nose. Endoscopic sinus surgery is a procedure designed to increase the amount of air flowing through the sinuses and allow mucus to drain properly out of the nose. The procedure improves breathing and the senses of smell and taste, and reduces chronic nasal blockages and facial pain.