ENT, SINUS & ALLERGY HEALTH BLOG
• Balloon sinuplasty is a straightforward procedure with minimal complications.
• 91% of patients said they would have the procedure again.
• 85% of patients reported improvement two years after the procedure.
A relatively new procedure -- FDA-approved in 2005 -- called balloon sinuplasty can provide relief for sinus sufferers who have have tried other treatments but are still suffering, said Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.
With balloon sinuplasty, a tiny catheter with a balloon attached is inserted into the nasal cavity. The balloon is then slowly inflated to open the blocked sinus, deflated and then removed, allowing the patient to breathe better.
“Balloon sinuplasty is really a workhorse procedure for us to help patients who failed medical management, who have had continued issues with sinus infections, sinus headache, sinus pressure, excessive postnasal drainage,” Khanna said.
Balloon sinuplasty is a straightforward procedure, and reported complications are minimal. It is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective, according to Healthline. The procedure is less expensive because it's performed in a medical office, as compared to a hospital setting, and is typically covered by insurance, according to GoodRx Health.
An early intervention not only increases patients' quality of life but also provides lasting relief and reduces out-of-pocket health care costs, according to the journal Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery. The estimated annual burden of sinusitis is between $10 and $14 billion, according to Current Asthma and Allergy Reports.
Patients tolerate in-office balloon sinuplasty procedures well, with an average pain score in one study of 2.8, according to the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. Patients on average needed only 1.4 days of recovery, compared to 4.2 days for patients who've had traditional surgical interventions, the medical journal Laryngoscope said.
A previous study by Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation concluded that 85% of patients still reported improvements in their sinus symptoms two years after having a balloon sinuplasty.
Symptoms of sinus disease are inflammation of sinus, sinus headache, maxillary sinus pain and thick discolored discharge, according to the Mayo Clinic.
To learn more about the balloon sinuplasty procedure, begin by taking a Self-Assessment Sinus Quiz.