Sinus Surgery
What is Sinus Surgery?
Sinus surgery is a specialised surgical procedure to treat sinus problems, particularly chronic ones that do not respond well to medication. The sinuses are air-filled cavities around the nasal passages that help with air humidification and mucus secretion. Issues such as blockages, inflammation, and infections can cause discomfort, breathing difficulties, and chronic sinusitis. Sinus surgery helps to alleviate these symptoms by improving sinus drainage and function.
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS): A standard procedure for chronic sinus issues, employing a nasal endoscope to visualise and remove tissue, enhancing sinus pathways without external cuts. Balloon Sinuplasty may be used in less severe cases, where it is introduced to expand the sinus passages and improve drainage.
These surgeries are performed under general anaesthesia and are considered Day Surgery procedures. Consult with our experienced ENT surgeon for tailored surgical advice.
What is the Success Rate of Sinus Surgery?
Sinus surgeries are successful. Our ENT surgeon would flush or/and suction away all the infective material during surgery, this allows the sinuses to be better ventilated, and promotes quicker resolution of chronic sinus infection and inflammation.
What are the Potential Side Effects of Sinus Surgery?
While generally safe, sinus surgery does come with potential side effects. Common Side effects include minor bleeding, facial pain, swelling, and nasal congestion. Most of these symptoms are temporary, resolving within a few weeks. More severe complications are less common. They include persistent sinusitis and, in rare instances, damage to surrounding structures like the orbital wall or base of the skull due to the proximity of sinuses to these critical areas.
The severity and occurrence of these side effects depend mainly on individual health conditions, the extent of the disease, and the specific surgical techniques used.
When should you see an ENT specialist in Singapore?
Please consult an ENT specialist if you are suffering from any ear, nose, or throat symptoms. It is also advisable to visit an ENT doctor if you experience persistent mouth breathing due to a chronic blocked nose or encounter snoring issues.
Dr Ker Liang sees adults and children for general ENT conditions and provides comprehensive management in a broad range of Ear, Nose, and Throat, as well as Head and Neck conditions. She has a special interest in treating throat and voice conditions, including persistent sore throat, voice issues, snoring, and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).
Medical Teaching
Assistant Professor Ker Liang has a passion for teaching and is an Assistant Professor with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM). As the NUS-NUH Otolaryngology Department Undergraduate Medical Director, Dr Ker Liang supervises the training of medical students from YLLSOM, NUS. She is actively involved
in the training of postgraduate junior doctors and residents in the Head and Neck Surgery department. She was conferred with an Undergraduate Teaching Award by the National University Health System in 2016 for her outstanding efforts as an Otolaryngology educator.
Medical Teaching
Assistant Professor Ker Liang has a passion for teaching and is an Assistant Professor with NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (YLLSOM). As the NUS-NUH Otolaryngology Department Undergraduate Medical Director, Dr Ker Liang supervises the training of medical students from YLLSOM, NUS. She is actively involved
in the training of postgraduate junior doctors and residents in the Head and Neck Surgery department. She was conferred with an Undergraduate Teaching Award by the National University Health System in 2016 for her outstanding efforts as an Otolaryngology educator.
