General Nursing©

Sinusitis

Most patients who have sinusitis which cannot be treated with antibiotics are treated with surgery. Nurses enforce bed rest to the patient, and force fluids to promote drainage. The head of the bed should no more than 30 degrees. To relieve pain and promote drainage, warm compress is applied continuously, or four times daily for two-hour intervals. Vomiting chills, fever, edema of the forehead or eyelids, blurred or double vision, and personal changes should be watched closely. Postoperatively, the patient is placed in semi-Fowler's position to prevent edema and promote drainage. And to relieve edema and pain, and minimize bleeding, ice compresses are applied over the nose and iced saline gauze over the eyes for 24 hours. Frequently, drip pad is changed. It is important to record consistency, amount, and color of drainage when scant, bright red, and clotty drainage occur.

What is Sinusitis:

If you have a cold that has lasted longer than usual and the area around your cheekbones is tender or painful to the touch, you may have sinusitis. Sinusitis affects about 31 million people each year and is an infection or inflammation of the sinuses.

What are Sinuses:

Sinuses are hollow spaces within the bones around your nose. Connected to your nasal cavities by small openings, your sinuses drain mucus into your nose. There are four pairs of sinuses: maxillary, ethmoid, frontal and sphenoid.

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