Maxillary Antral Washout Is Not Out

Antral lavage: irrigation of the maxillary sinus through its natural ostium or through a puncture of the inferior meatus. Antral

puncture and lavage through the inferior meatus is a minor but common ENT procedure, usually performed under local anesthesia

After seeing many cases of “failed FESS” in recent times, I am inclined to treat patients by onetime popular method of Sinus washout-Antral Lavage. This is very effective in severe cases of acute sinusitis. Done under infiltration anesthesia of inferior meatus, there is hardly any pain. Some times repeated sinus washouts are needed. It can be done as a diagnostic procedure too.

After the lavage, give antibiotics, it works well.

Procedure

Spray the Nose with Decongestant and local anesthetic. I always infiltrate the inferior meatus with Xylocaine and adrenaline using a dental syringe.

A fine trocar and canula will be pushed into the nose and through the thin bone of the maxilla into the sinus. Saline water will be flushed through the canula into the sinus.

The saline will come out of the ostium of the sinus, and drain into the nose. Any pus or infected fluid will come out as well.

A specimen of the infected fluid will be taken so that it can be send for microbiology tests. The canula will then be taken out. Hardly any pain or bleeding. The inside of the nose usually heals very quickly.

You will not feel any pain at all during the operation. Your operation can be done as a day case. This means that you come into hospital on the day of your operation, and go home the same day.

Maxillary Antral Washout Is Still Not Out