Sinuplasty
What is sinuplasty?
Historically, sinus surgery has involved more destructive methods required involving more discomfort and risks. Sinuplasty is also referred to as sinus dilation.
This procedure preserves normal sinus anatomy and helps restore normal function provides patients with significant relief from chronic sinusitis. The procedure is performed as a minimally invasive endoscopic technique with technology to introduce a small dilating instrument into the blocked sinus openings to widen and restore normal sinus function and drainage.
Sinuplasty has been FDA approved since 2005 and the procedure has been performed thousands of time with an excellent safety profile. Rather than cutting into bone and tissue, sinuplasty uses a dilator to permanently widen the sinus openings by expanding the small affected areas, which gently expands and parts the tissue.
The balloon sinuplasty procedure is done comfortably and quickly in the doctor’s office without general anesthesia and the typical associated hospital costs.
Balloon Sinuplasty Indications
Patients undergoing a sinus dilation should have already tried and already exhausted other medical management of chronic sinusitis options, like nasal steroids such as Flonase and antibiotics, or if you have acute recurrent sinusitis at least three times a year. Other indicated symptoms include chronic sinus pressure and pain as well as sinus headaches, post nasal drainage, chronic nasal congestion with changes to smell and taste. The severity of the sinus blockage is confirmed on CT scan imaging.
There are similar indications between sinus dilation and traditional sinus surgery, however, sinus dilation allows access and ventilation of the sinuses without the more aggressive surgical procedures typically performed historically.
While many patients have suffered with chronic symptoms, sinus dilation could still be particularly beneficial for patients with recurrent sinus problems that clear and come back periodically. Dr. Knight will determine and discuss with you if you are an ideal candidate.
Some balloon sinuplasty uses may include:
- Treating headaches around your eyes.
- Treating recurrent sinus infections that haven’t responded to medication.
- Treating foul taste in your mouth or chronic bad breath.
- Treating chronic nasal problems.
- Treating difficulty breathing through your nose.
While sinus dilation can help treat many of these symptoms, there are numerous other minimally invasive nasal treatments that can also benefit many of these symptoms even if you aren’t a candidate for sinus dilation.
Balloon Sinuplasty Benefits
Studies have reported on the effectiveness and safety of sinus dilation. Specifically, studies have shown long term patency of the sinuses and improved sinus-related quality of life after this procedure. Many symptoms are improved in the immediate time period following surgery although there is a normal time period of healing which accompanies any procedure which might require a typically short time period to notice the benefits.
Highlighted benefits include the following:
- Minimally Invasive: Small, safe sinus dilating instruments to widen sinus passages without having to remove bone and tissue.
- Reduced Bleeding: Reduced bleeding is noted when compared to regular sinus surgery without needing nasal packing generally.
- Improved Recovery Time: Little downtime with return to normal activities the following day in most cases. You may experience fast relief with this treatment; however, each patient’s recovery time will differ.
- Convenient: The balloon sinuplasty procedure is done comfortably and quickly in the doctor’s office without general anesthesia and the typical associated hospital costs.