Sinus surgery still performed if having a head cold/sinus infection?

Question

I'm scheduled to have endoscopic sinus surgery and a septoplasty in a couple of week and feel as though I'm getting a head cold that usually turns into a sinus infection (which is partially why I'm getting the surgery). If I happen to have a sinus infection the day of surgery will they still perform it since that is the problem they plan on correcting anyway?

Fred J. Bressler, MD, FACS · Answer

I recommend you contact your physician and schedule an appointment for an evaluation. If you have an upper respiratory infection with a history of advancing to sinusitis, it may be best to start antibiotics and Rx therapy now so that you would not be sick at the time of surgery. Most chronic nasal drainage symptoms can not always be avoided before surgery, but if you have an acute infection, most physician would prefer to postpone your surgery. The risk of complications, bleeding, pneumonia, post operative nasal infection, etc. is higher if you are sick, so it's best to avoid an elective surgery. Hope you stay well.

Sinus surgery still performed if having a head cold/sinus infection?

Answers (1)