Image-Guided, 3-D Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, When Needed

Chronic sinus infections have become almost commonplace today. According to the American Rhinologic Society, 35 million Americans suffer from chronic sinusitis. Often, sinus infections can be treated effectively with decongestants, antibiotics or steroid treatment. However, some individuals become resistant to medical treatment, and it becomes necessary to treat the infection with surgery.

In recent years, a new surgical option, endoscopic sinus surgery, has offered a less invasive tool for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. Jefferson University Hospital has been a leader in the use of endoscopic sinus surgery; in fact, we perform more sinus surgery cases per year than any hospital in the region. At the same time, we are extremely conservative in our selection of patients for surgical intervention. We approach each patient individually, making sure that we have exhausted all medication-based therapies before recommending surgery.

At Jefferson University Hospital, we use the most sophisticated instruments and equipment. A recent advance to endoscopic sinus surgery, one not available at most centers, is the 3-dimensional image guided mapping system. Using image-guided endoscopic surgery, surgeons are given 3-D views of the sinus anatomy in real-time. Image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery is considered a major advance in the treatment of chronic sinusitis because it further reduces complications and improves outcomes. It provides invaluable information that was previously unavailable to surgeons as they navigate the sensitive anatomy of the nasal passages. We continue to actively research ways to refine this technology.

At the same time, the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery is involved in ongoing research to optimize nonsurgical therapies for sinusitis. Chronic sinus infections are sometimes caused by uncontrolled allergies, and so, the first defense is to keep your allergies in check. We believe that it is usually best to start with the least- invasive approach. That means helping you to manage your allergies through prevention strategies and the control of the contaminants that may cause your symptoms.