Can nasal polyps be washed with saline?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on March 08, 2025
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Nasal polyps can be considered for saline irrigation, with the main types of saline used being physiological saline or physiological seawater. The main function is to help improve nasal ventilation and reduce swelling of the nasal mucosa. It also has some therapeutic effects for patients with poor sense of smell. However, overall, saline irrigation is still considered an auxiliary treatment method, and it is recommended to consider medication treatment. If the nasal polyps cover a wide range and the clinical symptoms are quite apparent, it could also be accompanied by sinusitis. Under such circumstances, endoscopic surgery might be necessary, which involves the removal of nasal polyps under endoscopy. Depending on the condition of sinusitis, concurrent sinus opening surgery might be required. It is advisable to visit an otolaryngology clinic for a formal diagnostic evaluation to determine the best treatment approach.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What should I do if nasal polyps cause nosebleeds?

Patients with nasal polyps who experience nosebleeds should visit an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department to identify the specific cause of the bleeding. Some patients have bleeding caused by nasal polyps, while others may bleed due to erosion of the nasal mucosa or rupture of small blood vessels. A small number of patients might have bleeding due to tumorous lesions. Therefore, after seeing an ENT specialist, it is necessary to undergo a nasal endoscopy, complete blood count, and coagulation function tests to clarify the specific cause of the condition. Some patients might choose conservative medical treatment, some may require nasal packing to stop the bleeding, and others, if conservative treatment is ineffective, may need to consider surgical treatment.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can nasal polyps be cured?

Nasal polyps are a common condition, but whether they can be completely cured varies from person to person. Generally, treatment is divided into two main categories: conservative treatment and surgical treatment. If the nasal polyps are few and do not cause significant clinical symptoms, most patients will consider conservative treatment, which includes the use of nasal sprays, nasal irrigation, and oral medication. Generally speaking, most patients can achieve effective control and relief. However, if conservative treatment is ineffective and the nasal polyps gradually increase or if the polyps are originally extensive, medical treatment might not be effective, which may necessitate surgical removal. Currently, the main procedure performed is endoscopic sinus surgery for nasal polyp removal, which is considered minimally invasive. However, neither medical treatment nor surgery can guarantee complete and permanent cure without recurrence, thus long-term follow-up is required.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How is nasal polyp treated?

Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological condition. In terms of treatment, it is first necessary to assess the severity of the condition. It is advisable to undergo a nasal endoscopy and a sinus CT scan. For cases where the nasal polyps are few and the clinical symptoms are mild, conservative medical treatment may be considered, typically involving the use of nasal spray medications, along with saline nasal irrigation. If the nasal polyps are numerous and the clinical symptoms are severe, and if conservative medical treatment is ineffective, nasal endoscopic polypectomy surgery may be considered. This is a minimally invasive surgery that generally yields good results, with less damage and a quicker recovery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How to radically cure nasal polyps?

The treatment of nasal polyps currently mainly considers two methods. The first is conservative treatment and the second is surgical removal. If there are few polyps and the symptoms are not particularly obvious, conservative treatment can generally be considered. This usually involves nasal sprays and oral medications, along with regular check-ups to observe any changes in the nasal polyps. If the control effect of the medication on the nasal polyps is not good, or if there are originally many polyps with obvious symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, dizziness, and reduced sense of smell, drug treatment may be insufficient, and endoscopic nasal surgery may need to be considered. Nasal endoscopic surgery can completely remove the nasal polyps, but regular check-ups are also necessary. Whether it is drug treatment or surgical treatment, there is a possibility of recurrence, and a complete cure cannot be guaranteed, therefore, long-term and regular check-ups are essential.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Do nasal polyps definitely have to be removed?

Nasal polyps are benign glandular tissues that occur in the nasal cavity. The presence of nasal polyps can block the nasal passage, leading to secondary infections, and as nasal polyps gradually increase in size, they can damage the local tissue structure. Therefore, once nasal polyps appear, they are primarily removed through surgery, making surgical removal necessary. However, in the early stages of nasal polyps, when they have just developed and are still small, they can be treated with medications such as methylprednisolone or prednisone. These drugs are mainly corticosteroids and can cause the polyps to gradually shrink and disappear in a minority of patients, a process referred to as chemical resection through medication. Nonetheless, the chance of detecting nasal polyps in their early stages is very small, and they are often only discovered when they have grown large enough to obstruct the nasal passage and affect breathing, meaning that they typically require surgical removal after they are found.