Paranasal cavities are cavities near the nasal area, and are connected to the nose through small openings called stomas. The specific cavities are four in total, and the largest of them is the sinus cavity, while the others are the ethmoid sinuses, which are divided into anterior and posterior, the sphenoid and frontal sinuses. Their role is to provide protection to the brain in case of injuries, to warm the air that each person breathes and to help the voice echo. In case of recurrent or persistent inflammation, sinus surgeries are indicated to treat the underlying pathological factors.

What are the sinuses & when they become blocked?

Sinuses have the shape of a pyramid and each one has three cavities, which are directed laterally, medially and downward. Like all paranasal cavities, the communication of the sinuses with the nose is through an opening called the stoma. When the stoma becomes blocked for any reason, the ventilation and drainage of the sinuses is disturbed, resulting in the accumulation of fluid in the specific paranasal cavity, inflammation and, consequently, the formation of sinusitis.

Sinusitis: Causes & Types

Any inflammation of the sinus cavities results in sinusitis. The specific condition can be caused by a virus, or bacterial. It usually occurs after a common cold or an allergic reaction. Other factors that contribute to its creation are the existence of scoliosis in the nasal septum or polyps, smoking, diabetes, contact with contaminated water through swimming or diving, an infection in a tooth or cranial injury due to a fracture.

Sinusitis is divided into types depending on the intensity and duration of symptoms, acute, subacute, acute recurrent and chronic. Acute sinusitis usually begins with cold-like symptoms, such as a runny and congested nose and pain in the facial area. It can start suddenly and last 2 to 4 weeks. Subacute sinusitis usually lasts 4 to 12 weeks and provokes severe symptoms. Chronic sinusitis usually occurs in cases where nasal scoliosis or nasal polyps are present, with symptoms that last for 12 weeks or more.

Sinusitis symptoms

The most common symptoms of sinusitis are headache, nasal congestion, purulent discharge from the nose, feeling of pressure on the face near the nasal area, difficulty or loss of smell, cough, low-grade fever, dental pain, bad breath and fatigue. The treatment of the condition, especially in the case of acute sinusitis, is conservative with the administration of antibiotics, cortisone solutions in the form of nasal spray to decongest the nasal cavity. Treatment lasts from 10 to 12 days.

Sinusitis treatment with sinus surgeries

In the case of chronic sinusitis, if conservative treatment does not provide relief of symptoms, then surgical treatment is recommended. Sinus surgeries may be necessary when recurrent or persistent infection occurs. They are indicated for the treatment of chronic sinusitis, but can also be applied in the event of other problems of the paranasal cavities.

Sinus surgeries are performed by opening the stoma of the sinus and draining the purulent concentrations in the nasal cavity, in order to restore its normal function. During surgery, it may be imperative to correct factors that favor the development of pathologies in the paranasal cavities. These factors are usually structural and concern the existence of scoliosis in the nasal septum or nasal polyps. Careful execution is important in sinus surgery as it is located near vital organs such as the eyes and central nervous system. ENT surgeon in Athens Dr. Olga Papadopoulou performs any form of sinus surgeries with the utmost care, in order to treat the pathological factors in the paranasal cavities.