Rhinology

RHINOLOGY (sinus and nasal specialisation)

What causes a nasal obstruction?

A blocked nose can lead to snoring, sniffing, mouth breathing. It can be caused by a deviated septum,  large adenoids, hay fever, enlarged turbinates or “sinus” disease.

Treatment involves specialised nasal sprays, rinses, antihistamines, or surgery. A septoplasty and surgery for the sinuses and turbinates is helpful when sprays are not helping. An assessment by an ENT specialist surgeon will provide information for you to choose the best option for yourself.

What are sinuses?

They are air-filled paired spaces in the bones of your face located below your eyes, between your eyes, in the forehead and at the back of your nose. Your sinuses are not removed with sinus surgery (they can’t be removed as they are part of your skull) as the aim is to open the sinuses up to facilitate improved nasal airflow and delivery of rinses with or without medications in the rinse.

They can become infected causing nasal blockage, smelly thick discharge, loss of your sense of smell, facial pressure and swelling of your eyes.

The sinuses become chronic where the symptoms become daily and persist for longer than 12 weeks a year.

What causes sinus problems?

There are many factors that cause sinus problems. “Scraping your sinuses” does not help the problem and can lead to an increase in crusting and blockage. Sometimes it can start following a cold. Nasal congestion and reduced sense of smell can be due to a deviated septum congested turbinates or sinuses. A blocked nose is not always due to your sinuses. If it is due to your septum and turbinates then antibiotics are not going to help with your blocked nose.

What treatments are available for sinus disease?

Treatment for your sinuses is with both medications and endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients with chronic sinusitis will need regular care for years to manage their sinusitis.

Associate Professor Eng Ooi has previously undertaken advanced training with international experts on the techniques of advanced endoscopic sinus surgery. A/Professor Ooi is able to offer advanced assessment and management of all sinus disease. This includes acute and chronic sinusitis, fungal sinusitis, and benign and malignant tumours of the sinuses and skull base. Dr Lauren Cooper is another of our ENT surgeons with expertise in advanced endoscopic sinus surgery. She completed the Flinders Advanced Rhinology Fellowship and training by Associate Professor Eng Ooi.

Dr Cooper and A/Professor Ooi  are both trained in performing advanced endoscopic drillout procedures for chronic frontal sinusitis that are refractory to standard surgical techniques. They are also able to prescribe Nucala (Mepolizumab) for chronic rhino sinusitis patients with polyps who meet the criteria for this new biologic to treat patients with polyps.

A/Professor Ooi has a PhD in immune causes of chronic sinusitis and has numerous research papers and grants on the causes and treatments of chronic sinusitis.

Both Dr Cooper and A/Professor Ooi are also faculty members of courses teaching ENT surgeons the techniques in advanced endoscopic sinus surgery.

What is stealth guided navigational surgery?

This technology is like the “GPS in your car”. It helps your surgeon navigate using your CT scans when operating in your sinuses. You will require a special type of CT scan done for this. A/Professor Ooi and Dr Cooper use it in selected endoscopic cases for sinus surgery, skull base surgery and removal of tumours.