Medicine Online
Any medical inquiries? Search MOL for answers:
NEWS
Home > News > 2005 > January > 6 > Sinus Surgery Safe for Elderly
Medical References
Diseases & Conditions
Women's Health
Mental Health
Men's Health
Healthy Choice News
Site Map Links
Medical Tips
Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news

Sinus Surgery Safe for Elderly

THURSDAY, Jan. 6 (HealthDayNews) -- Endoscopic sinus surgery is a safe, effective way to relieve the pain and pressure of sinusitis in older people who can''t be helped by drugs alone, says a Medical College of Georgia study.

The study included 56 people over age 60 who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery, in which doctors insert tiny cameras in the nose and view the images on monitors as they perform the surgery.

The patients continued to report improvement in their sinusitis symptoms during the year following the surgery. There were a few minor complications, and no major complications. The results are comparable to those in younger patients, the study found.

"This tells us that we should not neglect sinus problems in the elderly; that if medicines don''t work, we have a surgical technique that is not that invasive and results in good outcomes," researcher Dr. Stilianos E. Kountakis, vice chairman of the department of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery, said in a prepared statement.

"There is a way to improve symptoms either with medicine or surgery if necessary, and it''s worth pursuing because patients feel better overall and have better quality of life," Kountakis said.

The study appeared in the December issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about sinusitis.



-- Robert Preidt



SOURCE: Medical College of Georgia, news release, Dec. 29, 2004

Last Updated: Jan-08-2005
HomeSitemap Contact UsAdvertisingPress RoomGive Us Your FeedbackRead Our Terms & Conditions and Our DisclaimerPrivacy Statement