Does nasal polyp hypertrophy require surgery?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on October 29, 2024
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The treatment methods for nasal polyps are mainly divided into two categories. The first category is surgical treatment, and the second category is conservative medical treatment. If the nasal polyps are relatively small and the clinical symptoms are not very obvious, conservative medical treatment should be considered first. Common treatments include nasal spray medications and saline nasal irrigation. If accompanied by rhinitis or sinusitis, oral medications may be considered. If the extent of the nasal polyps is large and the clinical symptoms are clear, and if the results from medication are not good, surgery may need to be considered. After surgery, regular follow-ups are necessary to observe the recovery.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
1min 3sec home-news-image

Does everyone have nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are not something everyone has. The main causes of nasal polyps are related to the patient's smoking, drinking, and long-term exposure to physical and chemical factors in the air, which lead to the proliferation of redundant tissue on the surface of the nasal mucosa, blocking the patient's middle nasal passage and nasal vestibule, thereby causing symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and headaches. When patients with nasal polyps experience nasal congestion and runny nose, our first approach should be anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatment. Next, it is necessary to perform a thorough diagnosis with an electronic nasopharyngoscope and paranasal sinus CT scan. After a confirmed diagnosis, patients with nasal polyps usually need functional endoscopic sinus surgery, which involves removing the polyp tissue blocking the nasal cavity and opening the sinus openings to restore the normal physiological environment and drainage of the nasal cavity.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Do you need to be hospitalized for nasal polyp surgery?

The current nasal polyp surgery requires a general anesthesia and endoscopic nasal polypectomy. Since the surgery is performed under general anesthesia, more thorough preparations are made for hospitalized patients. The surgery demands high standards, thus preoperative blood tests and related cardiopulmonary function tests are necessary, requiring hospitalization. Additionally, after the surgery, nasal packing is needed to monitor the patient's recovery and to clean the nasal cavities and sinuses. Therefore, hospitalization is needed for this type of treatment, which generally lasts from 5 to 7 days from admission to discharge.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Nasal Polyps Symptoms and Hazards

Nasal polyp symptoms are quite varied, and these mainly relate to the number of nasal polyps, the severity of the polyps, and the subjective feelings of the patient. If the nasal polyps are small, there may not be obvious clinical symptoms, and the patient might not feel any discomfort; these polyps might only be discovered during a physical examination. If there are more significant numbers of polyps, they can cause common clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, dizziness, reduced sense of smell, and snoring during sleep. If the nasal polyps are severe, they might even lead to changes in the external shape of the nose, such as a saddle nose or a crooked nose, and in severe cases, they could induce comprehensive sinusitis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are a fairly common otolaryngological condition with a relatively high incidence clinically. There is significant individual variation in clinical symptoms. Some patients have few nasal polyps and might not show obvious clinical symptoms; these are often discovered only during a physical examination or a nasopharyngoscopy. Other patients may experience nasal congestion, a runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness. In cases where the polyps are particularly numerous and have been present for a long time, they may even cause deformities of the nose, such as a "frog nose" or "saddle nose." In such cases, timely surgical treatment should be considered, and regular follow-up inspections are needed to monitor for any recurrence.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can nasal polyps be cured?

Nasal polyps are a common condition, but whether they can be completely cured varies from person to person. Generally, treatment is divided into two main categories: conservative treatment and surgical treatment. If the nasal polyps are few and do not cause significant clinical symptoms, most patients will consider conservative treatment, which includes the use of nasal sprays, nasal irrigation, and oral medication. Generally speaking, most patients can achieve effective control and relief. However, if conservative treatment is ineffective and the nasal polyps gradually increase or if the polyps are originally extensive, medical treatment might not be effective, which may necessitate surgical removal. Currently, the main procedure performed is endoscopic sinus surgery for nasal polyp removal, which is considered minimally invasive. However, neither medical treatment nor surgery can guarantee complete and permanent cure without recurrence, thus long-term follow-up is required.