How is nasal polyp surgery performed?

Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Nasal polyps are benign neoplasms in our nasal cavities. Nasal polyps do not have a distribution of nerves and blood vessels. Once nasal polyps occur, the main treatment is surgical removal. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. We expose the nasal polyps using an endoscope, and then remove the nasal polyps using forceps or an electric suction cutter. The surgical operation is relatively simple. However, it is important to protect the surrounding structures such as the eyes and brain during the surgery to avoid damaging these tissues. After surgery, it is common to pack the nasal cavity, and the entire procedure generally requires a hospital stay of about one week.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What is the cause of bleeding from nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are a relatively common clinical disease, with various symptoms. Common symptoms include bleeding, as well as nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headache, and dizziness. The bleeding caused by nasal polyps may be due to the condition of the polyps themselves, with some patients experiencing bleeding polyps that bleed repeatedly. It could also be due to inflammation associated with the polyps, or erosion of the nasal mucosa or small blood vessels in the nasal cavity rupturing and causing bleeding. Therefore, when such symptoms occur, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology (ENT) department for tests such as a complete blood count, coagulation function tests, nasopharyngoscopy, and a sinus CT scan to determine the specific cause of the condition.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is it safe to have a second surgery for nasal polyps?

The surgery for nasal polyps is primarily performed under general anesthesia, involving the removal of the nasal polyps and functional endoscopic sinus surgery. All surgeries carry certain risks, thus secondary surgeries for nasal polyps also entail risks. Moreover, since the initial surgery alters the normal anatomical structure of the nasal polyps and their surroundings, the difficulty of the surgery increases, thereby slightly raising the risk of a secondary procedure. The third point is that the surgery is now performed under direct endoscopic vision. Although this type of surgery carries risks—and indeed, all surgeries do—the likelihood of these risks is relatively small, so there is no need for excessive worry.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Do nasal polyps need surgery?

Some nasal polyps require surgery, mainly due to the extensive area they cover. For instance, if the nasal polyps have invaded the nasal cavity, middle nasal meatus, and lower nasal meatus, they can cause corresponding clinical symptoms. These symptoms include repeated nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, headache, dizziness, snoring during sleep, and mouth breathing. When there are many nasal polyps, conservative treatment usually does not yield particularly good results, therefore, surgical removal must be considered. Currently, the main surgical approach is minimally invasive endoscopic nasal polyp removal. Generally, this type of surgery causes minimal harm, has a quicker recovery time, and the overall outcomes are quite clear.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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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.