We just mentioned that the nasal clearance in the review is to open the sinus opening, which is the main purpose of the surgery, and also to make it easier for the medications to enter the sinus cavity to work to control the further progression of the disease. So what medications are used after surgery? The most commonly used drugs are hormones, mucus-thinning drugs, antibiotics, etc. Each of these medications has its own specific effects.
Hormones can prevent nasal edema and control vesicle production Nasal hormones: We should not talk about hormones, in fact, nasal hormones only work locally and have very little effect on the whole body. It should be said that nasal hormones are very safe and essential to prevent recurrence after surgery. The function of nasal hormones is to prevent edema and control the formation of polypoid vesicles, and the commonly used drugs are Reynocort, Nesuna, and Cochlear, etc. The duration and dosage of nasal hormone use are determined by the doctor according to the patient’s condition, and there are no specific limits. If the doctor does not recommend stopping the medication, the patient should never stop using it without permission, otherwise the condition is likely to return, and some patients may even need to use nasal hormones for life to control the development of the condition. Oral hormones: For some patients with refractory sinusitis, a period of oral hormones, such as prednisone, is also recommended during the post-operative recovery period.
Surgery is invasive and requires appropriate antibiotics Antibiotics: Because surgery is, after all, invasive, we generally recommend that patients take oral antibiotics for 1 to 2 weeks. Some scholars also suggest that long-term oral macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin 1 capsule/day for three months, can be given. The exact regimen will depend on the patient’s condition.
Mucus-thinning drugs to prevent mucus from blocking the nasal cavity Mucus-thinning drugs: these drugs can thin the secretions in the sinus cavity and prevent the mucus from being too sticky and blocking the sinus opening. The human sinuses themselves have the ability to cleanse themselves – the nasal cilia constantly send mucus adsorbed with dust and harmful bacteria from the sinuses to the nasal cavity through regular oscillation, which helps the cilia oscillate and the mucus to be discharged. Mucus-thinning drugs need to be used for about 1 month after surgery.
Others: Chinese herbal medicines, such as Xiang Ju capsules, can be used; patients with asthma can use leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as Shunyerin, etc.
Tips: Topical glucocorticosteroids: They are usually used continuously after surgery and have no fixed duration of use.
Some patients with allergic rhinitis often require lifelong use.
Oral hormones: Patients with refractory sinusitis may need to take them for a period of time after surgery.
Antibiotics: generally used for less than two weeks postoperatively (longer depending on the nature of the secretions).
Mucus-thinning drugs: more than one month.