Procedure Overview: Balloon Sinuplasty

Those who suffer with severe chronic sinusitis know what a nightmare it can be: constant pain and pressure in your face, soreness in your nose, continual stuffiness and mucus, runny noses and coughing. Sinusitis can not only ruin your day it can interfere with your life. Worse, you may feel that treatments often either provide only temporary relief or involve painful surgery.

This is no longer the case. There is now a treatment which can provide almost instant relief and is only minimally invasive. Here’s an overview of how the balloon sinuplasty procedure works to reduce or eliminate sinusitis symptoms.

Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is a condition where inflammation often caused by mucus and blockage obstructs the openings of the sinuses. When this happens, mucus builds up even further and becomes a vector for bacterial growth. This causes infections, which further exacerbate the problem. If not treated, greater health issues can arise. In most patients, over the counter treatments such as nasal sprays and antibiotics help. For those with severe chronic sinusitis, the use of a balloon catheter may be prescribed.

Balloon Catheter

Balloon sinuplasty makes use of a balloon catheter, a small and flexible balloon that is inserted into the inflamed sinuses to open up the passageways and allow the built-up mucus to drain. This will reduce or eliminate the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.

The Procedure

The procedure is fairly basic and quite similar to that used in heart procedures to open clogged or blocked arteries, though far less invasive. There is no cutting or damage to the body involved with this procedure whatsoever, since the sinus cavities are already accessible.

It involves only four steps and can often be performed as an outpatient procedure right in your ENT doctor’s office.

1. The balloon catheter is placed into the sinus cavity.
2. The catheter is then inflated. This presses on the sides of the sinus openings, causing them to open up. This widens the walls of the sinuses and restructures the passageway, while maintaining its integrity and doing no damage to the sinus lining.
3. Saline solution is sprayed into the sinuses to flush out the clogging mucus and pus that is causing the blockage
4. The whole balloon system is removed, allowing the blockage to drain and leaving the sinuses open once more.

Safety Concerns

There are no notable safety concerns with this procedure. It is completely safe and very effective. Recovery time is minimal, with most patients feeling relief instantly and being able to resume their normal activities with only a day or two of recuperation at most.

Many patients who receive this procedure display significant improvement in the symptoms of their sinusitis, and the improvements may last for years after the procedure. 

If you live in the Atlanta area and are suffering from severe chronic sinusitis, we may be able to help. Read a bit more about how balloon sinuplasty works, and give us a call for more information or an appointment to open your sinuses and restore your breathing today.