OCEANN ENT
IN-OFFICE BALLOON SINUPLASTY
OCEANN ENT
WHAT IS BALLOON SINUPLASTY?
When symptoms such as nasal congestion, sinus pressure, and postnasal drip become chronic and cannot be resolved by conservative medical management, you may be a candidate for a procedure known as a balloon sinuplasty. In-Office Sinus Balloon Dilation, also known as Balloon Sinuplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure that helps widen the sinus passageways to improve breathing and reduces the risk and occurrence of sinus infections. This allows for potential resolution of chronic ongoing sinus infections and reduces the frequency and severity of recurrent sinus infections.
Frontal Sinus Balloon Dilation with Image Guidance 1
OCEANN ENT
HOW IS THIS PROCEDURE PERFORMED IN-OFFICE?
Balloon sinuplasty can be performed in the office under local anesthesia and oral sedation, which includes topical anesthesia solution and a nerve block similar to that used in dental procedures. This in-office outpatient procedure avoids the potential risks of general anesthesia and the additional costs associated with an outside facility such as a hospital or surgery center.
In this procedure, the constricted sinus opening is pushed open and expanded with a balloon at the end of a catheter to allow mucus to drain more freely. After expansion, the balloon is then removed, and dissolvable packing may be used to stent the sinus tracts to maintain patency during the recovery period after the procedure. The concept behind this procedure was derived from the heart procedure known as an angioplasty, where a balloon is used to open a blocked coronary artery.
A biopsy may be taken at the time of the procedure to send for culture results at the lab for determination of the organism causing bacterial or fungal infection. In the case of a nasal polyp, it may be biopsied or removed if obstructing a sinus tract.
HOW IS THE RECOVERY IN COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL SINUS SURGERY?
Left Sphenoid Sinus Balloon Dilation with Image Guidance 1
Many patients report great comfort and tolerance both during and after the procedure as they can provide feedback to the surgeon during the procedure. Patients often compare recovery to experiencing the common cold or flu after the procedure for a period of time. The Balloon Sinuplasty procedure has a recovery period of approximately 3 to 5 days, which tends to be shorter than the usual 2-week recovery period of traditional Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (also known as FESS). The minimal tissue removal compared to traditional sinus surgery and the cutting-edge image guidance in Balloon Sinuplasty decreases the risk of damage, trauma, pain, bleeding, and scarring.