Is surgery necessary for the polyp in the maxillary sinus?

Question

Hi doctor,

I was diagnosed with an antrochoanal polyp on the right side maxillary sinus without bone remodeling, and I know that the only therapy is surgery. I want to ask you if I can wait for the surgery. Is there any medical therapy for that specific polyp to stop the growth? And how fast is it growing? What complications can I have if I leave it without surgery till summer? My problem is also that I have anemia with 30 hematocrits because of my heavy period. I do not know with this type of surgery how significant blood loss makes me more prone to complications during or after surgery under general anesthesia. Thank you so much for your time and your answer.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

There is no medical cure for this sort of polyp. I suggest you use steroid nasal sprays and antihistaminics or a short course of oral steroids. A short course of oral steroids can also be tried. Oral steroids are contraindicated if you have diabetes. Complications of long-standing polyp: further growth, complete nasal obstruction, discomfort while talking, swallowing, mouth breathing, snoring, lack of sleep, daytime sleepiness, nasal discharge, ear block, sinus headaches, etc. Blood loss during endoscopic surgery is minimal, to about 30 ml or 40 ml. So it is safe to go ahead with the surgery once you correct your anemia. It would be best if you had a decent hemoglobin level before surgery. We do the surgery with general anesthesia. In my setup, I use microdebridders to minimize bleeding. Do write back to us for more details. Happy to help you.