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Nasal polyps
What should I do if nasal polyps recur for the second time?
Nasal polyps are a common and frequently occurring clinical disease, consisting of benign neoplasms in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Clinically, nasal polyps are primarily treated through surgery, specifically functional endoscopic sinus surgery for the removal of polyps under nasal endoscopy. Nasal polyps have a certain probability of recurrence. After a second recurrence, a second surgery is required. Following surgery, it is necessary to regularly follow up with cleaning of the nasal and sinus cavities, and to actively use certain medications, such as corticosteroids and some macrolide anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, during nasal polyp surgery, some tissues should be removed for biopsy to avoid confusion between nasal polyps and papillomas.
What does it mean when nasal polyps bleed?
Nasal polyp bleeding mainly has three causes. One reason is that the nasal polyp damages the structure of the nose. Since nasal polyps are a space-occupying lesion, they gradually enlarge, compress the nasal structures, and damage the mucosa and blood vessels of the nose, which can lead to nasal bleeding. The second reason is that the nasal polyp itself may be a bleeding necrotic nasal polyp. This type of bleeding necrotic nasal polyp is very prone to bleeding, and even minor injuries or damage can lead to bleeding. The third reason is that bleeding necrotic nasal polyps might be a manifestation of the disease. As the nasal polyp enlarges, if such an enlarged polyp becomes lodged in a sinus opening or in the nasal cavity, it can lead to ischemic necrosis, which after occurring, can cause bleeding. In summary, these are the three main cases.
Is nasal polyp surgery under general anesthesia dangerous?
Nasal polyps are currently primarily treated by two methods: medication and surgery. If there are many polyps, surgery is usually considered necessary. There are two types of anesthesia used in surgery: local anesthesia and general anesthesia. Generally speaking, general anesthesia, administered through endotracheal intubation or a laryngeal mask, is relatively safe and does not significantly affect the surgery or the patient themselves. However, there are certain risks involved, such as anesthesia accidents or slow metabolism of anesthetic drugs, which could trigger other or existing underlying diseases, further increasing the risk. Additionally, there could be damage to the nasal cavity or structures around the nose, such as periorbital ecchymosis, nasal bleeding, severe bleeding leading to shock, and some might experience changes in vision or visual field, or effects on the olfactory nerves.
Are nasal polyps serious?
Overall, it is generally not very severe. Most patients with nasal polyps have localized conditions, which may be accompanied by clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness. Initially, a nasopharyngoscopy is required to determine the specific range of the polyps and clarify if there are any other pathologic conditions. If the diseased area is extensive, further nasal sinus CT scans may be needed to determine if there are any abnormalities in the sinuses. In terms of treatment, conservative treatment is recommended for patients with small polyps and non-significant symptoms. However, if the polyps are numerous and there are notable clinical symptoms, surgical removal should be considered. After surgery, regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor the recovery situation.
Do nasal polyps always require surgery?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) disease, with various clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and reduced sense of smell. Regarding treatment, surgery is not always necessary. Nasopharyngoscopy and sinus CT scans may be required to assess the specific extent and severity of the condition. If the nasal polyps are limited and the clinical symptoms are mild, conservative treatment with medication is recommended rather than surgical treatment. However, if there are multiple polyps and severe clinical symptoms, and the results from standardized conservative treatment with medication are not satisfactory, then surgical treatment should be considered.
Do nasal polyps have any harm?
Nasal polyps are abnormal tissue structures and pathological in nature, thus posing several risks to human health. Firstly, they obstruct nasal airflow because nasal polyps block the normal respiratory and ventilation passages, causing the primary sensation of nasal congestion and difficulty in breathing through the nose. Secondly, they impair the sense of smell. Nasal polyps obstruct the nasal cavity, preventing odors from smoothly reaching the olfactory area, leading to diminished olfactory perception. Thirdly, if the nasal polyps persist for too long and grow excessively large, they can result in acute changes in the nose, the most common being a "frog-like nose." This condition makes the nose appear flattened and broad like a frog's, lying against the face which is cosmetically unappealing.
Is minimally invasive surgery for nasal polyps painful?
Nasal polyp surgery is performed using endoscopic nasal polypectomy and sinusotomy. It is a minimally invasive surgery that requires general anesthesia and is painless. The cause of nasal polyps is unclear, generally, they are due to repeated chronic inflammation, which can cause diffuse congestion, edema, hyperplasia, and prolapse of the nasal turbinate mucosa. They are also often secondary to allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps usually occur bilaterally and cause persistent nasal congestion that progressively worsens. During an endoscopic examination, pale, lychee-like fresh tumors can be seen in the nasal cavity, which are soft and painless. In terms of treatment, medication is ineffective for nasal polyps; patients need to undergo local surgical treatment for cure.
Do nasal polyps need surgical removal?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological condition, and the treatment methods are generally divided into two categories. The first category is surgical treatment, and the second is conservative medical treatment. Therefore, the choice of treatment mainly depends on the severity of the patient's condition, the patient's own wishes, and their overall health. If the condition is mild and the clinical symptoms are not obvious, medical treatment can be considered first to see the effects. If the condition is severe, the nasal polyps are extensive, and the clinical symptoms are clear, and if there is no effect after standardized conservative medical treatment, surgical removal should be considered.
Can nasal polyps be treated conservatively?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngologic condition. Some patients may consider conservative treatment, particularly when the severity of the nasal polyps is mild. If, after standard conservative medication treatment, the severity of the nasal polyps does not gradually improve but instead worsens, or if the initial severity of the nasal polyps is high, conservative medication treatment may not be effective. In such cases, surgical treatment should be considered. Currently, the most common procedure is endoscopic nasal polyp removal surgery, which is a minimally invasive surgery. Overall, the surgery tends to have good outcomes and relatively minor damage. However, it requires regular check-ups to monitor the effectiveness of the surgery.
What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?
Nasal polyps are benign tumors that occur inside the nasal cavity. Generally, the appearance of nasal polyps is associated with chronic inflammatory stimulation, repeated irritation of the turbinate mucosa leading to congestion, edema, prolapse, and hyperplasia of the turbinate mucosa, which causes nasal polyps. They are also often secondary to allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps can cause bilateral nasal congestion in patients, which tends to persist and worsen, while mucous secretions may also flow from the nasal cavity. In severe cases, patients may experience facial swelling, pain, headaches, and other related symptoms. During examination, pale white lychee-like, soft new growths that are usually painless can be found inside the nasal cavity. In terms of treatment, nasal polyps require endoscopic nasal polypectomy. The surgery requires hospitalization, general anesthesia, and postoperative antibiotics to prevent local infection. Patients can usually recover and be discharged about a week after the surgery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)