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Sinus washouts were an operation of the past, where a large trochar was placed through the nose into the maxillary sinus low on the lateral nasal wall.The sinus was then aspirated and then washed out.Things have significantly developed with our understanding of the way that the sinus anatomy and physiology functions. This procedure is rarely performed nowadays as we have changed practice to open the natural openings of the sinuses to encourage their natural drainage rather than just making a hole which would typically seal over.

This new type of physiologically correct surgery is called FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) and is aimed at using the bodies normal sinus physiology and encouraging it to work better to help the sinuses drain. An endoscope is used to visualise within the nose and specially designed instruments can be used to open up the nasal anatomy.

An endoscope is an integral piece of equipment required to look in the nose as part of a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.

In sinus surgery also referred to as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) a ridgid endoscope is used by the surgeon in order to visualise the anatomy of the sinuses. The openings to the sinus system can then be directly visualised or indirectly visualised on a TV screen to allow the ENT surgeon to open the drainaige pathway of the sinuses or to open the sinus up itself.

The endoscope is a glass rod system developed to aid surgeons in keyhole surgery. The rod system is often called a Hopkins rod and has an attachment for a light source whilst also having a viewing end. The endoscope is placed in the nose and the eyepiece may be attached to the camera system to view where the endoscope is.

Endoscopes are now made with flexible fibres and are often used in the Outpatient setting to look in the nose and also to visualise the voice box.