It’s no scarier than a trip to dentist

NUMBER 10 has described the Prime Minister’s sinus surgery as ‘minor’. In fact sinus surgery is typically minor, usually performed either to deal with an acute infection (to drain pus) or remove a polyp, a benign growth.

The sinuses are air-filled cavities behind the nose and, like the nose, they are lined with moist tissue. Problems can occur if you have an infection or allergy, which can cause this tissue to become inflamed.

The fact that just three days before Mr Johnson was travelling by air to Ukraine suggests his problem was not an acute infection. Sinuses do not take well to the pressure changes from flying anyway – but especially if they are inflamed.

Besides, it’s been reported that the procedure had been planned for some time. So my guess is that Mr Johnson had the surgery to remove one or more nasal polyps. These are pale fleshy swellings or growths (they look like a peeled grape and can be that big) that develop from an inflamed nasal lining. Often the cause is an allergy to things such as dust.

Polyps cause nasal blockage, discharge and poor sense of smell – and, in turn, poor sleep and a cough. Removing them is a minor procedure, no more significant or distressing than having a tooth removed.

In my day we did this as an office procedure after dobbing inside the nose with a local anaesthetic. The polyp itself is removed with a fine wire snare, looped over it and then tightened to cut through the stalk.

Be reassured: The PM will already be back to normal. Dominic Raab’s moment in charge would have been brief indeed.