Murrayfield Hospital,
Wirral
Mr David Luff
ENT Surgeon
Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral
Get Specialist Help to Alleviate the
Misery of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Do you have
private health
insurance?
We asked Mr David Luff, Consultant ENT Surgeon, BM BS,
FRCS (Eng), FRCS (ORL-HNS) from Spire Murrayfield
Hospital, Wirral, for his expert advice.
Every year, the onset of winter is associated with an
increase in colds and flu bugs. For most people, these can
be tackled with over the counter remedies and rest but, in
some cases, they can lead to more serious conditions that
require further attention. In particular, rhinitis and
sinusitis can be a cause of ongoing suffering if not treated
appropriately.
Rhinitis
sinusitis
often occur together,
and
Then
relax, and
you
can accelerate
your way
to the term
used by ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) surgeons to refer to
world-class
treatment
at Spire
Murrayfield
this condition
is rhinosinusitis.
In adults,
rhinosinusitis is
generally
classified as acute or chronic with the latter,
Hospital,
Wirral.
being diagnosed if symptoms continue after three
months.
prevalence of chronic
rhinosinusitis
• The Appointments
available
in is as high, affecting
10%
of
the
UK
population.
Symptoms
include nasal
little as 24 hours
obstruction/congestion, nasal discharge including
postnasal drip/catarrh, facial pain or headaches and a
• reduced
Fast sense
access
to diagnostics
and
of smell.
Patients can also
report allergic
treatment
symptoms,
such as sneezing or, occasionally, bleeding - in
which case investigations would need to be undertaken
exclude more serious
causes.
• to Advanced
Technology
Acute rhinosinusitis cases often occur after viral upper
tract infections and common colds, meaning
• respiratory
Over 300
treatments available
they are more common in the winter. The majority of
cases are self-limiting, with patients self-treating or if
they need to seek medical opinion, visiting their own GP.
If you
don’t have
private
health
For on-going
symptoms
– or 'chronic'
rhinosinusitis,
patients
are
usually
referred
to
ENT
surgeons.
insurance.
While viruses and colds can, sometimes, trigger chronic
rhinosinusitis,
there
are enjoy
a number
of other things that
Don’t
worry, you can
still
private
can cause it, including allergy, asthma, fungus and Aspirin
treatment at Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral.
sensitivity as well as possible anatomical factors in the
Call nose.
our customer
service
advisors
and
see
how
A specialist
consultation
will
help
you
to identify
we can
help.
We
have
affordable
options
what the cause is and the most effective course of action
including
0% finance.
to alleviate
the issue.
When patients attend a clinic visit with me at Spire
Murrayfield Hospital I take down a full medical history
and discuss symptoms with them. This is followed by an
Book
to see an expert today
examination, including the use of a flexible or rigid
endoscope,
which
allows me to obtain the best views
Call:
0151 648
7000
inside the nose. Flexible endoscopy provides a fantastic
Email:
[email protected]
diagnostic
tool, and I am often able to show the findings
to patients on a monitor or provide photographs as part
of the explanation that follows.
It is a simple test, taking only several minutes, with the
option to have it done with or without local anaesthetic.
Allergy testing to common allergens including cats,
dogs, treat and grass pollen (hayfever) and house-dust
mite is often undertaken during the clinic appointment
too, so we can exclude allergic causes. This may be in
the form of a skin prick test, which is a painless test that
takes approximately 20 minutes or in the form of blood
tests. Other allergens can also be tested for if deemed to
be relevant.
There are a range of treatment types available,
depending on the cause of the chronic rhinosinusitis,
and whether the patient has nasal polyps or not.
Steroids form part of any treatment for rhinosinusitis
(unless there is a reason not to use them) and may be
given in the form of a nasal steroid spray; or drops or
tablet steroids depending on the individual case and
what your GP has prescribed before.
Antibiotics might also be prescribed, sometimes for
long-term usage, as well as antihistamines if there is an
allergic cause identified. For asthmatic patients, other
forms of treatment may also be considered.
Where medical treatment fails to fix the problem,
surgical options can be discussed. Surgery is carried out
endoscopically (through the nostril) under a short
general anaesthetic on a day case basis. It involves
draining the infection, removing diseased tissue -
including any nasal polyps and ventilating the sinuses.
Following surgery, recovery takes around two weeks and
we ask patients to visit us around six to eight weeks
after the procedure, so we can reassess their symptoms
and reinspect the nose. In most cases, we'll ask that
people continue with a steroid spray on a long-term
basis.
Whatever the cause of chronic rhinosinusitis, it can be a
seriously debilitating condition that impacts on a
person's quality of life. If you've been experiencing
symptoms for a pro-longed period of time, it's important
to see a consultant as soon as possible, to get to the
bottom of the issue and on the road to recovery.
At Spire Murrayfield Hospital, Wirral, sinus surgery is
available from £3000. Our consultants have wide
experience in some of the latest techniques and
innovations and our inclusive prices and access to 0%
finance options make the process easy and more
affordable. For further information on our broad range
of procedures and to find out more about our team of
expert consultants search 'SpireWirral' or call our
specialist advisers on 0151 929 5408.