Do nasal polyps have to be surgically removed?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on April 19, 2025
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Nasal polyps are common in otolaryngology and frequently recurring. If a patient with nasal polyps does not exhibit significant symptoms, they can be managed with observation and the targeted use of local anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the growth and enlargement of the polyps. If the patient experiences significant symptoms such as bilateral nasal obstruction, pus discharge, or headaches linked to the condition, surgery should be considered. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be performed under video guidance to thoroughly remove the affected mucosa and polypoid tissue in the nasal cavity, thereby curing the patient. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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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.

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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 Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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How is nasal polyp surgery performed?

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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The difference between nasal polyps and adenoids

There are fundamental differences between nasal polyps and adenoids. Nasal polyps are polypoid tissue proliferations located in the nasal cavity and sinus cavities, resembling a peeled lychee. In contrast, adenoids are located in the nasopharynx and are a normal anatomical structure of the human body, whereas nasal polyps are a new benign tumor-like growth. Furthermore, nasal polyps require surgical removal, primarily through functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Adenoids generally do not require surgical treatment unless they are enlarged, causing issues such as snoring and sleep apnea, in which case surgery might be considered.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Is minimally invasive surgery for nasal polyps painful?

We often talk about the minimally invasive surgery for nasal polyps, which is the most common procedure of endoscopic nasal polyp removal that we use today. This type of surgery does not only remove the nasal polyps, but also the root of the polyps and even opens up the sinuses. This is crucial for eliminating the cause of the nasal polyps and is very important for preventing their recurrence. Although it is a minimally invasive surgery, it can still be quite painful. After the surgery, both nostrils need to be packed. If the packing material is absorbable, such as Nasopore, the discomfort might be less because after the surgery, one just needs to wait for the packing to gradually dissolve into a mucus-like substance and get expelled. However, if expandable sponges or even gauze strips are used, these materials need to be removed after several days. Removing these materials can cause significant pain for the patient. During the period of packing, the patient can also experience a lot of discomforts such as headaches, dry throat, discomfort in the eyes, tearing, and even some might feel foggy in their ears and uncomfortable while eating and drinking, along with other painful symptoms. Additionally, after the minimally invasive surgery for nasal polyps, regular follow-up cleanings are necessary. The purpose of these follow-up cleanings is to timely clear out any blood clots or secretions from the nasal cavity and sinuses, aiding the recovery of the mucous membranes in these areas and also preventing the short-term recurrence of the nasal polyps, which is a very important part of ensuring the effectiveness of the surgery. Thus, these procedures can induce a certain amount of fear and pain for the patients, but before performing these surgeries and examinations, doctors generally engage in thorough discussions and provide comfort to the patients, advising them not to be too nervous. The actual discomfort is temporary and will pass after enduring it for just a few days post-surgery.