Balloon Sinuplasty is a surgical treatment option for patients who suffer from chronic sinusitis that can’t be managed medically. It’s safe, effective, and less invasive than other procedures, requiring no cutting of bone or tissue.
Using balloons to dilate the sinuses has been performed in the operating room for years as part of sinus surgery. In children, sinus balloons are used along with adenoidectomy to control chronic nasal and sinus infections. This offers a 30% higher cure rate than adenoidectomy alone.
Sinus Treatment
New research pioneered by Dr. Rosner has shown why minimally invasive Balloon Sinuplasty performed in the office helps to control infection and improves patient’s sleep. This helps patients whose sinus pain disturbs their sleep. In REM (rapid eye movement) sleep the nose becomes congested, blocking the sinus opening and causing sinus pain to fragment sleep. When sleep is fragmented, chemicals called cytokines are elevated. These cytokines increase sinus pain, further fragment sleep, and are the first precursor to bacterial sinusitis. Medical solutions help some patients, but many continue to suffer from recurring sinus infections. For them, Balloon Sinuplasty represents the only real effective long-term treatment.
Balloon Sinuplasty Procedure
Balloon Sinuplasty is typically performed in an outpatient setting. Patients are given either a local or general anesthetic before a balloon catheter is inserted into the sinus cavity. The balloon is then inflated in order to enlarge the sinus opening and widen the walls of the nasal passages. A saline solution is sprayed in the cavity to flush out mucus and other debris, and the catheter is removed. The end result is open sinuses that enable normal breathing and drainage of fluids. Up to 95 percent of patients report a significant improvement in sinus symptoms following this procedure.
