Chronic sinusitis encompasses a variety of symptoms including headaches, congestion, drainage, infection, decrease in smell or taste and fatigue. In the great majority of people, sinusitis occurs when the tiny openings that connect the sinuses to the nose swell closed. It is obstructed sinus openings that cause the symptoms of sinusitis. Traditional endoscopic sinus surgery involves passing a small scope into the nose, identifying the blocked sinus openings and then removing a small amount of the tissue around the openings, making the openings larger. The larger sinus openings are now much less likely to swell closed.
A more recent option, Balloon Sinuplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure, in which a tiny balloon is passed into the sinus openings, inflated for 5-10 seconds, and then withdrawn. It also enlarges the blocked sinus openings, relieving sinus symptoms almost immediately and providing good, long lasting results.
- Because it does not involve the removal of tissue, Balloon Sinuplasty can be performed in the office using a local anesthetic.
- Recovery is quick: most people go back to work in three days and back to almost all activities within a week.
- Balloon Sinuplasty almost never requires packing, creates no swelling or bruising, and causes very little post-procedure pain.
- The procedure is incredibly successful, with ongoing, long-term studies showing continued protection from sinus symptoms seven years following the procedure.
- Because the procedure doesn’t involve a general anesthetic, surgical risks are very unlikely.
For all of these reasons, Balloon Sinuplasty is a great option…
- for people who have had little or no improvement from medicines;
- for people in whom medicines work fairly well, but have to take multiple medicines daily in order to keep sinus symptoms at bay and are tired of the medicines and their side effects;
- for people who have been considering more traditional endoscopic sinus surgery because of ongoing, long-term symptoms and like the idea of a simpler option;
- for people who have had endured sinus symptoms for years because they didn’t want to consider an in-hospital surgery.
Following their surgery and recovery, patients often report the resolution of their headaches and frequent infections, better sleep, less fatigue, and the ability to breathe like never before.