OCEANN ENT
IN-OFFICE SINUS BALLOON DILATION
Orange County Ear, Allergy, Nose & Neck (OCEANN) ENT
When sinus congestion, sinus pain/pressure, and postnasal drip become chronic and fail to respond to maximal medical management, In-Office Sinus Balloon Dilation (as known as "Balloon Sinuplasty") is a Minimally-invasive Sinus Procedure that can be done comfortably in the office setting (without the need for or risk of general anesthesia at the hospital). In-Office Balloon Sinuplasty is performed under topical and local anesthesia (including a nerve block of the sphenopalatine nerve), along with oral sedative medications, in the OCEANN ENT Procedure Suite. In certain instances, a stronger sedative can be administered on-site in our Procedure Suite safely under the supervision of the surgeon to minimize any patient discomfort if deemed necessary by the physician and upon patient request. Balloon Sinuplasty opens up your blocked sinuses in order to facilitate normal drainage of mucous and infection out of obstructed sinus tracts. This allows for potential resolution of chronic ongoing sinus infections and reduces the frequency and severity of recurrent sinus infections, no matter how long you have been suffering with your troublesome sinus symptoms. Success rates are comparable to traditional FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) in most recent clinical studies. Dr. Kathy Yu-Syken proudly offers Balloon Sinuplasty using two cutting-edge devices that give her the ability to customize your treatment. To learn more about the long-term relief available with In-Office Sinus Balloon Dilation, please contact our office in Huntington Beach, California.
WHAT IS IN-OFFICE SINUS BALLOON DILATION (BALLOON SINUPLASTY)?
In-Office Sinus Balloon Dilation, also known as Balloon Sinuplasty, is a Minimally-invasive Sinus Procedure that uses a thin, small balloon catheter (similar to the ones used in angioplasty for blocked coronary arteries in the heart) to open obstructed and inflamed sinus tracts in a novel, innovative, and gentle fashion. This then improves drainage of mucous and infection out of the inflamed sinus cavities to clear up chronic sinus infections (even if infection has been present for a long time), and can reduce the frequency and severity of recurrent sinus infections (usually in patients who frequently get infections after a cold/flu/Covid or with allergy flare-ups due to anatomically narrow sinus openings). Balloon Sinuplasty of the sinuses is usually performed using cutting-edge technology such as image guidance (provide link to subsection "CT Image Guided Sinus Procedures" under "Minimally Invasive Sinus Procedures" Tab), at our state-of-the-art OCEANN ENT Procedure Suite, which does improve accuracy and decreases likelihood of any serious complications.
Minimally-invasive procedures are performed using specialized tools that are able to access your sinuses through your nose/nostril using the guidance of an endoscope, in conjunction with image guidance information incorporated from your CAT scan of the sinuses. Minimally-invasive Sinus Procedures usually result in less trauma, minimal bleeding, decreased post-procedure pain, and a shorter recovery period than traditional Sinus Surgery done under general anesthesia.
OCEANN ENT
WHAT CAUSES SINUSITIS?
Sinusitis occurs when the membranes lining the sinuses become inflamed. As inflammation blocks the opening into your nose, mucus becomes trapped inside the sinus, which becomes infected.
When inflammation and swelling last at least 12 weeks, despite treatment, you have chronic sinusitis.
Medical conditions such as the common cold and allergic rhinitis often cause chronic sinusitis. It can also develop when nasal polyps or a deviated septum block the sinus opening.
ABOUT IN-OFFICE SINUS BALLOON DILATATION
Which condition receives treatment with in-office sinus balloon dilation?
Balloon dilation is specially designed to treat chronic sinusitis, an inflammatory condition affecting your paranasal sinuses.
The paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity. You have four pairs of sinuses:
● Maxillary: one under each eye.● Sphenoid: one behind each eye.● Ethmoidal: two between the eyes.● Frontal: one above each eye.
Each sinus contains membranes that produce mucus, which commonly leaves the sinus through a small opening and drains into your nose.
Although mucus is a significant part of congestion, it has an essential health function in your nasal passages: It lubricates the nose, preventing it from drying out when you breathe. It also helps filter out dust, bacteria, and other microorganisms.Am I a good candidate for balloon dilation?
Dr. Yu-Syken may suggest in-office balloon dilation when you suffer from symptoms such as:
● Inflammation and infection that persist despite antibiotics.● Recurring infections that develop more than four times yearly.● Pain, pressure, or tenderness around your eyes, nose, cheeks or forehead.● Nasal congestion or difficulty breathing through your nose.● Persistent foul taste in your mouth from postnasal drip.● Frequent sinus headaches.● Decreased sense of smell.● Chronic thick or discolored discharge.Which medical devices perform in-office balloon dilation?
Dr. Yu-Syken uses the XprESS™ ENT Dilation System by Entellus Medical to perform in-office balloon dilation
XprESSThe XprESS balloon dilation device performs with optimal visualization using an LED light fiber. Its sleek design allows for gentle navigation through your nose.The end of the device is flexible, so Dr. Yu-Syken can shape and customize it to meet the anatomical design of each patient’s nose.The XprESS also has a ball tip that provides tactile feedback, allowing Dr. Yu-Syken to feel or examine essential tissue.How is in-office balloon dilation performed?
After giving you a local anesthetic, our provider guides the balloon dilation device through your nose to the blocked sinuses. They may use computerized tomography (CT) imaging to ensure the device inserts accurately.
Once the device is in the sinus opening, they inflate a balloon in its tip for about five seconds. Pressure from the balloon expands the opening and restructures the shape of the passageway.
When one of our providers deflates and removes the balloon, your sinuses stay open. You can breathe normally again, your sinuses drain properly, and your risk of recurring sinusitis will reduce.What are the benefits of in-office sinus balloon dilation?
Treatment with balloon dilation offers benefits such as:
Results equal to surgical techniquesStudies show that balloon dilation produces the same long-term effects as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which used to be the only option for opening blocked sinuses. With nonsurgical balloon dilation and surgical FESS, patients stay symptom-free.
No bone or tissue removalUnlike FESS, which involves removing bone and tissue, balloon dilation doesn’t damage or remove tissue.
Quicker recoveryWhen you undergo balloon dilation, you can be back to work or school in one or two days. Downtime with FESS is five days or longer, depending on the extent of the surgery and how quickly you heal.