If you’re suffering from chronic sinusitis and have exhausted your treatment options, you may be a candidate for Balloon Sinuplasty. This minimally invasive surgical solution is a safe and effective method of enlarging your sinus passages for easier breathing and a drastic reduction in sinusitis symptoms.
What Is Sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis is a widespread condition affecting 37 million Americans. This inflammation of the sinuses occurs when the sinus opening becomes blocked, preventing mucus from draining properly. It causes cold-like symptoms that include congestion, runny nose, sore throat, facial pain and swelling, loss of smell or taste, bad breath, fatigue and headache.
It is most often caused by viral infections, but can also occur as a result of nasal polyps, a deviated septum or head trauma. Medical solutions work for some, but others continue to suffer despite numerous attempts using a variety of treatments. Balloon Sinuplasty may be the answer.
What’s Different About Balloon Sinuplasty?
Conventional sinus surgical procedures involve cutting and excision of bone and tissue, a process that may cause pain and scarring and requires a recovery period.
In comparison, Balloon Sinuplasty is quick (the average operating time is 73 minutes) and relatively painless, and has a lower risk of complications or side effects. It is FDA-approved and considered a safe alternative to endoscopic sinus surgery.
How Is Balloon Sinuplasty Performed?
Gentle dilation of the sinuses using endoscopic technique allows the sinuses to drain and relieves symptoms due to chronic sinusitis. This procedure is primarily performed in the office under local anesthesia or iv sedation with less recovery time versus traditional sinus procedures. A small balloon catheter is placed in the sinus and inflated in order to enlarge the sinus opening and then removed. Patients may return to work the same day or the day after with minimal discomfort and risks are extremely rare. The procedure takes minutes and can lead to lasting results. The procedure may be performed with image guidance to improve accuracy and sometimes is performed along with traditional endoscopic sinus techniques (hybrid procedure) depending on the unique needs of the patient. Up to 95 percent of patients report a significant improvement in sinus symptoms following this procedure.
If you are interested in Balloon Sinuplasty, speak with your doctor or an ENT specialist. The physicians at River ENT will perform a thorough examination and go over your medical history to help you determine which sinus treatment options are best for you.
Call River ENT at (512) 677-6368 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
