Balloon Sinuplasty: How It Works And Who It Benefits
If you have sinusitis so bad that traditional medicines don't help, you could benefit from balloon sinuplasty. This relatively new procedure has many benefits, especially for people who can't do traditional surgery. Read on to learn more about this procedure and who makes a good candidate.
What Is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is the chronic inflammation and infection of the sinus tissues. It often causes difficulty breathing through the nose. For many people, chronic and severe facial pain accompanies the condition. Sinusitis frequently develops from a bacteria or virus infection. Most infections resolve after a few weeks. However, some people have recurrent problems that affect their quality of life.
What Are Traditional Treatments for Sinusitis?
Traditional treatments usually start with medications to reduce inflammation and attack the cause. Patients often begin with decongestants and saline rinses. Some people may need antibiotics. For severe cases, doctors do endoscopic surgery to enlarge the sinus opening. This surgery has infection and scarring risks.
How Does Balloon Sinuplasty Work?
Balloon sinuplasty involves the use of balloons to push back the tissues and open up the sinuses. The sinuses can then drain normally and resolve the infection. Most people recover quickly and can normally resume their activities right away. The procedure is less likely to cause bleeding or scarring and doesn't require medications.
For the right people, the results are often long-term and don't require re-treatment for years. Also, it doesn't prohibit other alternative treatments in the future. So, if it doesn't work for you, you can try something else, like traditional surgery, later on.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Balloon Sinuplasty?
Some people have better success with balloon sinuplasty than others. This procedure works best with sinus issues that don't respond to other treatments. It may be less effective with other problems like allergies. Doctors often prefer that patients attempt alternative treatments for a few months before they consider an endoscopic procedure.
The procedure is ideal for those who have mild to moderate sinusitis. It is even better if you haven't had a long history of problems. Often, people with long-term infections and inflammation develop polyps. Balloon sinuplasty does not remove polyps and won't cure the issues they cause. It also won't fix structural problems like a deviated septum.
Balloon sinuplasty can be a great alternative for those with certain sinus conditions. It has many benefits over traditional surgeries and treatments. It's particularly good for people who don't want to deal with medications. To see if it is right for you, contact an ears, nose, and throat doctor for an examination.
