Sinus obliteration procedure

[Wildcard]

Years ago in high school, I got in the way of a fast moving fist. The punch kinda collapsed my sinus passage. When I first started diving, my maximillary sinus...don't remember what side...gave me fits. I finally went to a diver ENT in college...He literally reamed my sinuses out and they worked perfect...then about 20 years later I developed sinus polyps...after the surgury the surgeon told me he could drive a Mac Truck thru my sinuses...He also told me he was gonna use my polyps for bait when he fishing later that day. Anyway, my sinuses still work well at 56 years.

Thats great but did he catch anything?

 

[RumBum]

Hi RumBum,

By your "bump" I'm assume you're looking for more info.

Anything in particular?

Regards,

DocVikingo

I have been unable to find anything in DAN's website or otherwise online about whether this operation will preclude diving. The ENT, understandably, is more concerned about relieving the headaches than about future recreation activities.
I understand what TSandM is saying; if there are no airspaces then diving will not be a problem. Are there usually are minimal airspaces left after this procedure? I would think it would be very difficult for the doctor to create a vaccuum in the sinus prior to filling it with tissue? If you know of a source for information on sinus obliteration and how it may impact scuba diving, I would appreciate a link or title.

Thank you

 

[FredT]

The procedure I had doesn't "remove" sinuses, it simply removes the partitions between them creating a single large space where many smaller spaces once existed. Think of it as removing the inside non-structural walls from our house creating a single large room from several small ones.

Generally the effect on diving is to make it MUCH easier and safer. Sinuses with blocked or labyrinthine passages to equalization and drainage that would trap air now have barn doors open to allow it to escape. There are some down sides, such as less structural support to the face bones in case of full frontal impact and some loss of the filtering and moisturizing effects of the sinuses on incoming air at the surface.

BTW commercial divers are almost required to get the surgery if using some gear that seriously limits the ability to equalize.

FT

 

[TSandM]

Fred, your procedure sounds like the much more common type of sinus surgery.

RumBum, if the orifice to the sinus cavity is destroyed, eventually the cavity will fill with fluid. Gas is slowly reabsorbed and fluid takes its place. How long it would take to do that may vary from person to person, and in this case, I don't know how long that is. As long as air remains, there is a potential for symptoms related to compression and decompression and gas diffusion. I'm sorry, but I just can't answer your question. It may come down to waiting a few months and then trying some shallow dives to see if there is any pain from doing them.