The most common condition affecting the nose is chronic sinusitis, which refers to chronic infection and inflammation of the sinuses. Approximately 15% of the North American population suffers from sinusitis, which usually presents with chronic fatigue headaches, facial pain, pressure, loss of smell and taste, nasal congestion, obstruction and postnasal drainage.

In most instances chronic sinusitis occurs as a result of blocked sinus drainage pathways, usually secondary to a viral cold, or sometimes allergies. When the narrow sinus drainage pathways obstruct, the sinuses continue to make mucous, and eventually get infected with bacteria from the nose resulting in a bacterial sinus infection. If this is not dealt with quickly, the lining of the sinuses get inflamed and further obstruct the drainage pathways, resulting in a chronic sinus infection. Polyps usually occur as a result of the chronic infection and add to the sinus and nasal obstruction.

Computer Assisted Sinus Surgery - CASS

Image guided sinus surgery - also known as computer assisted sinus surgery (CASS) is a modern, minimally invasive procedure that avoids external incisions. Its’ development over recent years has helped revolutionize the management of sinus disease. CASS refers to the use of an image guidance system that has an accuracy of less than 1.0 mm and the ability to track an instrument in real time within the confines of a surgical field.

CASS allows a surgeon to precisely navigate the affected areas of the nose and sinuses while leaving healthy areas untouched. The unparalleled view of nasal and sinus anatomy allowed by endoscopic surgery minimizes unnecessary trauma while ensuring maximal treatment. Using this technique, skull base and sinus tumors can also be removed endoscopically through the nostrils without making an incision on the face.

Since the sinuses are located in a highly confined area between the eyes and beneath the cribriform plate (brain), such technology is helpful not only in avoiding complications during sinus surgery, but in allowing more complete surgery resulting in a significant improvement in the overall cure rate. Currently the CASS system is used routinely at the False Creek Surgical Centre for revision and primary sinus surgery with an overall cure rate of greater than 95%.

Modern Technology: Safety and Control

Computer assisted sinus surgery (CASS) adds another level of safety and precision for difficult and revision cases. It is known within millimeters the exact location in the sinuses. In addition, in the past, such operations would have required an ‘open’ approach where the patient would be left with a large facial scar and require longer in-hospital stay as well as increased recovery times. This is no longer the case with CASS.

False Creek Surgical Centre is one of five facilities in Canada to possess the state-of-the-art equipment required for CASS.

The surgeon also uses the InstaTrak™ navigation system involving a specialized three-dimensional, computer-enhanced visualization system - which is the same equipment utilized in satellite navigation of stealth bomber planes. This system provides the surgeon with a real-time display of a surgical instrument's location and trajectory overlayed on the patient's CT scan for extremely precise control.

This surgery is preformed by Dr. Amin Javer, an Otolaryngologist and surgical team member of False Creek Surgical Centre. Dr. Amin Javer is the only surgeon in Western Canada with fellowship-certified training in computer assisted sinus surgery.