Sinus infections, also referred to as sinusitis, are one of the most commonly diagnosed diseases in the United States. The painful symptoms associated with severe sinusitis can be overwhelming and impact your quality of life. The overwhelming majority of sinus infections are viral in nature and, therefore, require symptomatic relief instead of antibiotics. Your primary care doctor may prescribe you medication to treat your nasal infection symptoms or refer you to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist who can work with you to put together a treatment plan. One option for those looking for a sinus infection cure is balloon sinuplasty.
Balloon sinuplasty is a newer procedure in the US, and many ENT doctors perform it right in their offices with local anesthesia. Balloon sinuplasty is popular for a reason; it’s a minimally invasive remedy for many sinus problems including sinus pain, congestion, infections, and more. So what is balloon sinuplasty, and is it a feasible cure for your sinus problems?
What is balloon sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty is a type of sinus procedure intended for patients who suffer from sinusitis. In cases of either acute sinusitis or chronic sinusitis, the sinus passageway is blocked. This causes sinus pressure, congestion, difficulty breathing through the nose, and more. The goal of balloon sinuplasty is to open the sinus passage to relieve those symptoms. Here’s how balloon sinuplasty works:
· Use local anesthesia, your doctor will insert a thin tube into your nose.
· On one end of the tube is a small balloon, which your doctor guides to the blocked area inside your nose.
· Your doctor inflates the balloon to gently open up your passageway so your sinuses can drain.
· Your doctor will flush a solution through your sinuses to further remove any debris. This causes your sinuses to drain more effectively and, as a result, drastically reduces your sinus congestion.
Most patients report drastically reduced symptoms only a week after the procedure.
Is balloon sinuplasty right for you?
Balloon sinuplasty was only recently introduced, so research is still being conducted on its benefits and limitations. Because the procedure involves little to no tissue removal inside your nose and sinuses, this is a great sinus infection remedy for those who wish to forgo the stress of the operating room.
At this time, there are some situations for which balloon sinuplasty is not appropriate. These situations include cases of significant scarring from previous surgery or large sinus polyps. However, for patients who suffer chronic sinus inflammation, severe sinus infections, or other sinus diseases, balloon sinuplasty may be a great option.
