Balloon Sinuplasty
If symptoms like sinus pressure, headache, tenderness or pain are keeping you from accomplishing daily tasks, a new, minimally invasive approach to treating sinusitis is available: balloon sinuplasty.
Whether due to allergies, an infection or just the cold, we understand how chronic sinusitis can affect your quality of life. We at Providence are here to help.
Balloon sinuplasty is an outpatient procedure used to treat chronic sinusitis.
The procedure is performed using a small flexible device inserted through the nostril. The device inflates a tiny balloon to help dilate the sinus, providing nearly immediate relief for patients with blockages.
Balloon sinuplasty is a valuable and effective alternative to traditional sinuplasty. Traditional sinuplasty uses major surgical techniques, requiring incisions and removal of bone and tissue in the skull, causing pain and a lengthy recovery process for most patients.
Balloon sinuplasty is minimally invasive and does not require an incision or general anesthesia.
During the procedure, your ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist will inject a numbing agent to your nose as an anesthetic. They may also place guards in your nostril to help insert a guide wire.
The guide wire is led to the sinus cavity and used to guide the balloon catheter to the inflamed sinus. Once there, the balloon catheter expands, helping relieve congestion and blockages. The catheter also applies a saline solution to the sinus to help cleanse the sinus of excess mucus.
Patients are able to leave the same day. Most resume normal activity within 24 hours and experience sinus relief within a couple of days.
As with any procedure, balloon sinuplasty involves some risk of complications and side effects. These include infection, nasal swelling and possible bleeding. Though rare, there is a slight chance of intracranial complications, where the connection between the brain and the nose becomes damaged.
Doctors Specializing in Balloon Sinuplasty
At Providence, you'll have access to a vast network of dedicated and compassionate providers who offer personalized care by focusing on treatment, prevention and health education.
