What are the risks and complications of sinus surgery?

The following complications of sinus surgery have been reported in the medical literature. This list is not meant to be inclusive of every possible complication. It is here for your information only - not to frighten you - but to make you aware and more knowledgeable concerning potential aspects of sinus surgery.

• Failure to resolve the sinus infections or recurrence of sinus problems and/or polyps.
• Bleeding. In very rare situations, a need for blood products or a blood transfusion. You have the right, should you choose, to have autologous (using your own stored blood) or designated donor blood prepared in advance in case an emergency transfusion is necessary. You are encouraged to consult with your doctor regarding these issues if you are interested.
• Chronic nasal drainage or excessive dryness or crusting of the nose.
• Need for further and more aggressive surgery.
• Need for allergy evaluation, treatments, or environmental controls. Surgery is not a cure for or a substitute for good allergy control or treatment.
• Failure to improve or resolve concurrent respiratory illness such as, but not limited to, asthma, bronchitis, or cough.
• Failure to resolve associated "sinus or nasal" headaches. The exact cause of headaches can be difficult to determine or have many different causes.
• You may require consultation with another specialist such as a neurologist.
• Damage to the eye and its associated structures (very rare).
• Damage to the skull base with resultant meningitis, brain abscess, or leakage of spinal fluid (very rare).
• Permanent numbness of the upper teeth, palate, or face.
• Nasal obstruction due to failure to control infection or polyps.
• Prolonged pain, impaired healing, and the need for hospitalization.
• Failure to restore or worsening of the sense of smell or taste.