Can nasal polyps be eliminated by taking medicine?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on October 28, 2024
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Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngologic condition, presenting with a variety of clinical symptoms. The more common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headache, and dizziness. In terms of treatment, the usual approaches are conservative treatment and surgical treatment. If there are few nasal polyps and the clinical symptoms are not particularly severe, medication treatment can be considered. Some patients may see a gradual reduction in their nasal polyps after medication treatment. However, in cases where there are many polyps and the clinical symptoms are significant, and standardized medication treatment is ineffective, surgical removal may be necessary. Currently, the more common procedure is endoscopic sinus surgery for the removal of nasal polyps.

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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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Symptoms of enlarged nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngology disease with various clinical symptoms and certain individual differences. If the nasal polyps are few, there might not be obvious clinical manifestations. They could be discovered during physical examinations or nasal endoscopy. If there are many nasal polyps, it could lead to reduced sense of smell, headaches, dizziness, nasal congestion, and runny nose. Overall, different patients exhibit different symptoms. In terms of treatment, it is first necessary to assess the specific severity of the condition, which can be evaluated comprehensively using nasopharyngoscopy and sinus CT scans. Most patients can consider medical conservative treatment, while a small number of patients with numerous polyps might need to consider surgical treatment. (The use of medications should be guided by a professional doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to radically cure nasal polyps?

The treatment of nasal polyps currently mainly considers two methods. The first is conservative treatment and the second is surgical removal. If there are few polyps and the symptoms are not particularly obvious, conservative treatment can generally be considered. This usually involves nasal sprays and oral medications, along with regular check-ups to observe any changes in the nasal polyps. If the control effect of the medication on the nasal polyps is not good, or if there are originally many polyps with obvious symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, dizziness, and reduced sense of smell, drug treatment may be insufficient, and endoscopic nasal surgery may need to be considered. Nasal endoscopic surgery can completely remove the nasal polyps, but regular check-ups are also necessary. Whether it is drug treatment or surgical treatment, there is a possibility of recurrence, and a complete cure cannot be guaranteed, therefore, long-term and regular check-ups are essential.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How is anesthesia administered for nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder, and if there are numerous polyps with clear clinical symptoms and conservative drug treatment is ineffective, surgery should be considered. Currently, the primary procedure is endoscopic nasal polyp removal, which is a commonly used minimally invasive surgery. Generally, the level of pain experienced by patients is not particularly significant. Therefore, in terms of anesthesia, it may be suitable to consider either general anesthesia or local anesthesia. If the nasal polyps are not particularly severe and the patient has a good tolerance, local anesthesia can be considered. However, if the condition is more severe and symptoms are clearly pronounced, it is generally advised that general anesthesia might be a better option.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Do nasal polyps need to undergo a biopsy before surgery?

Nasal polyps must first undergo a biopsy before surgical treatment can proceed. A clear diagnosis is necessary. If it is a nasal polyp, local surgical removal is needed. If it is a bleeding or malignant nasal polyp, local hemostasis, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy is required. Nasal polyps can occur for various reasons clinically, and are generally directly related to chronic rhinitis or chronic allergic rhinitis in patients. They are polyps formed from the diffuse congestion, edema, and prolapse of the nasal concha mucosa due to long-term inflammatory stimulation. Nasal polyps can lead to persistent nasal congestion in both nasal cavities, along with a sense of swelling and foreign body sensation in the nasal cavity. In severe cases, it can cause a decrease in the sense of smell and memory. It is necessary to go to the hospital for a detailed examination. An electronic nasal endoscope and sinus CT can determine if there are any abnormal tumors. If a tumor is found, a local biopsy will be required. If it is confirmed as a nasal polyp, local surgical removal is necessary for treatment.