Balloon Sinuplasty to Treat Chronic Nasal Congestion

Inflammation of the lining in an individual’s sinus cavity can result in chronic nasal congestion also known as chronic sinusitis. It can cause swelling that will block a person’s sinus opening and prevent normal mucus drainage. This could result in regular sinus infections occurring and the pain associated with them. When this condition lasts over 12 weeks, it is considered chronic.

A popular treatment for this chronic condition when medical treatments are no longer effective is balloon sinuplasty, or balloon catheter dilation surgery. It has been shown to be an effective medical procedure designed to clear a person’s blocked sinuses.

Symptoms Of Chronic Sinusitis

When a person has chronic sinusitis, they could experience facial pain, a sore throat from nasal discharge, swelling and tenderness around their nose, eyes, forehead, and cheeks. They could also experience sinus congestion as well as pressure and pain in their teeth, difficulty breathing through their nose, green or yellow mucus from the nose, a sinus headache, loss of smell and more.

Chronic Conditions

The balloon sinuplasty procedure is usually recommended for people who suffer from chronic sinusitis. It is a fairly simple procedure. It involves no cutting and no bone or tissue being removed. Balloon catheter dilation surgery is still considered a form of surgery. It has the same type of risks associated with other forms of sinus surgery.

Procedure

A balloon sinuplasty procedure is often able to be performed in the office of an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or at a hospital if necessary. Depending on an individual’s situation, it could be performed under general or local anesthesia. A patient will need to speak with the ENT to determine which anesthesia would work best for them. During the procedure, the ENT will place a very small light at the end of a wire into a person’s sinus cavity. A very slim and flexible balloon catheter is then carefully placed into a person’s sinus passages.

The balloon is then slowly inflated. This expands a person’s sinus passage opening. The physician may then use a saline solution to flush out the mucus and pus that will have built up. A patient will often feel a decrease in pressure in their sinuses. When the balloon is in a person’s sinus passage, it will enlarge the shape of the bone around their sinus openings. Once the procedure is completed, the ENT deflates the balloon and removes it. When the procedure is completed, a person’s sinus passage will be widened so that normal function can return.

Recovery

Many people can go back to their regular activities in about two days after having balloon sinuplasty. During the following week or so after the procedure, a person may see small amounts of bloody discharge or drainage coming from their nose. It’s also possible for a person to have congestion, fatigue as well as swelling. This is common to all sinus surgery. These symptoms will usually be gone after approximately seven to ten days.

The ENT will advise a person to not blow their nose for a minimum of 24 hours. During the seven days following the procedure, patients will also have to avoid engaging in any strenuous activity or any type of activity that would elevate their heart rate. Sleeping with their head elevated could help relieve a person’s discomfort from drainage. This is also a time when people will want to be careful and aware of how their body is feeling.

Recovery Medications

The quickest way to recover after having balloon sinuplasty is to follow all the instructions from the ENT. After the procedure, patients are often given a prescription for antibiotics to diminish the chance of them getting an infection. It is important to take all the medication as prescribed for the entire time required (except in the case of side effects or complications with the medications).. A balloon sinuplasty procedure usually doesn’t result in a person experiencing excessive pain.

There are situations where pain relief medication will be prescribed. If someone is considering taking any type of over-the-counter pain relief medication, they should speak with their ENT first. Patients may also be provided a recommendation for a saline solution that should be used to rinse out their nasal passages. It will help keep a person’s sinuses lubricated and encourage the healing process.

Shown Effective

Several studies have shown that balloon sinuplasty is a safe and effective procedure for patients with sinus problems that are not responsive to medical therapy. In 2016, a study was conducted concerning the results of individuals who had the balloon sinuplasty procedure. Over 14 adults who had undergone balloon sinuplasty reported significant improvements within approximately 3 months after having the procedure. All of them reported no side effects that weren’t expected.

The study did show people who had the balloon sinuplasty procedure had nasal passages that were much more clear and open when compared to what they were before having the procedure. It was also noted the procedure was able to preserve the structure of the mucous membrane as well as healthy nasal tissue. Another study conducted in 2017 found that over 93 percent of children with chronic sinusitis who had the balloon sinuplasty procedure were successfully treated. The benefits of the procedure were still being experienced by the children of over a year after having it.

Medical treatment is effective for most but not all patients who suffer from chronic sinusitis. Unfortunately, it has been shown more than 19 percent of patients who get standard treatment for their chronic sinus condition do not experience any type of improvement. Since it was approved by the FDA in 2005, balloon sinuplasty has been successfully used to treat over 500,000 patients. Balloon sinuplasty is considered a surgical procedure demonstrated to be a safe and effective option for patients who have not had success using other types of treatments for their chronic sinusitis.

Physicians at the Becker Ear Nose and Throat Center are experienced in a variety of procedures – including balloon sinuplasty procedures – to treat patients with nasal and sinus problems. Learn more about Becker ENT’s highly skilled surgeons by visiting website at www.beckerent.com.