Protection of the Mucous Membrane

State-of-the-art "Shaver" for Sinus Surgery

The nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are lined with a special mucous membrane. Its task is to clean, moisturize and warm the air we breathe. In particular, it ensures that inhaled foreign bodies and, above all, pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi) are removed as quickly as possible. To do this, the mucous membrane produces a secretion that envelops the unwanted intruders. There are tiny cilia on the surface of the mucous membrane, which then push the secretion towards the throat. From there it reaches the stomach, where the stomach acid renders the pathogens harmless.

Extreme precision

This self-cleaning process no longer works in places where there is a lack of mucous membrane in the nose and paranasal sinuses. “In sinus surgery, it is therefore very important that the healthy nasal mucosa is spared during the operation,” emphasizes Priv.-Doz. Dr. Sven Schneider, specialist in ENT and head and neck surgery.

In the surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis, a common surgical procedure in the ENT area, any polyps and inflammatory changes to the mucous membrane must be removed. The surgeon must work with extreme precision to ensure that healthy nasal mucosa is not lost in the process. At the Wiener Privatklinik (WPK), a special shaver is available to the attending physicians for this purpose.

You could compare it to a razor for the nasal mucosa. “This device can be used to shave away pathological mucosa without destroying or removing healthy mucosa at the same time,” explains Dr. Schneider.

Every location accessible

It is a state-of-the-art device that is increasingly becoming the standard for sinus surgery in Austria. The instrument has a rotatable tip so that the blade can turn in any direction and thus reach any location in the sinuses. “In this way, the maximum amount of healthy mucous membrane is preserved,” confirms Dr. Schneider.