When Is a Balloon Sinuplasty Performed?
A balloon sinuplasty, or a balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a minimally invasive surgery that ENT specialists administer on patients with severe sinus issues and blockages in the nose. Nicknamed the “smart sinus” procedure, the balloon sinuplasty was inspired by the angioplasty, where damaged blood vessels near the heart are dilated using a balloon catheter.
Because the procedure doesn’t involve any cutting or any removal of nasal tissue, it has a short recovery time. This has made it the go-to procedure for patients with chronic sinusitis. It is also fully covered by many medical insurance agencies.
Experiencing Chronic Sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis is a condition where excessive pus and mucus appear in the sinus cavity. The cavity becomes enlarged due to this and cannot drain all the discharge naturally. The congestion usually ends up causing breathing problems with most patients.
Patients who have chronic sinusitis but are not responding to medicines or therapies like nasal rinses are usually good candidates for a balloon sinuplasty.
What Is a Balloon Sinuplasty Procedure Like?
This endoscopic procedure is done by Dr. Compton under general or local anaesthesia. The He first dilates one, two, or three of the important major sinuses.
The treatment is carried out with the help of a thin balloon catheter attached to an endoscope, a flexible thin tube made out of plastic that is inserted into the sinus. A small flashlight on the endoscope helps Dr. Compton see what he is doing. He then slowly inflates the balloon, which widens the blocked nasal passage forcibly by restructuring the nasal tissues.
Once that is done, a saline solution is used to flush out all the pus, mucus, and other debris in the sinus cavity, which depressurises the cavity. After that, the balloon catheter is removed slowly and the cavity is allowed to drain naturally.
Most balloon sinuplasty surgeries take up to one hour to perform and don’t usually extend beyond that timeframe.
Benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty
The balloon sinuplasty surgery has become more and more popular since its introduction back in the mid-2000s. There are a variety of reasons for this:
- The American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy conducted a study that showed that the surgery was extremely safe with an extraordinarily low rate of complications at 0.1%.
- The surgery can be done on patients of all kinds. This includes asthmatic patients and patients who have allergies of any kind. The surgery can even be performed on patients with septum deviations or those who have had nasal plastic surgeries performed in the past.
- The surgery is minimally invasive and has a very short recovery time. That means the patients can return to their daily activities shortly after the procedure.
- The procedure doesn’t leave any device-related post-operative infections.
- The procedure does not require the removal of any nasal tissues, including mucous membranes, cartilage, or bone.
Find Out More About This Procedure
Dr. Andrew Compton is an experienced and skilled facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with numerous satisfied patients. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Compton – contact our office today to get started.