Many patients have questions about the safety and effectiveness of the Balloon Sinuplasty procedure. To understand the safety involved, it is important to take a look back at how this procedure began. This relatively new method used in rhinology, a subset of ENT medicine, has noticeably benefitted many patients with sinus issues. Based on technology originally used in cardiology, the Balloon Sinuplasty is founded upon the idea that ENT surgeons can re-establish the natural processes of the sinuses that contribute to the disease process by releasing any blockages. Since 2005, Balloon Sinuplasty technology has been commercially available and was released to treat chronic sinusitis.
Overall, the concept of Balloon Sinuplasty is pretty simple. It involves using a small wire to pass through the nasal cavity into the affected sinus. Once it has been confirmed that the wire is in the correct sinus, a balloon-dilating catheter is slid through to the sinus drainage area. This balloon is then quickly and briefly inflated in order to widen the sinus by moving it, and its mucous membrane, outwards. The complete result is a widened sinus tract without having to remove any tissue.
But how safe is it?
While this method was initially was met with criticism from the wider medical community, several clinical studies have vouched for it as a safe and effective tool in the battle against chronic sinusitis. In fact, both the American Rhinologic Society and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery currently support these procedures and recommend them for patients. The Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved this procedure for use in tens of thousands of people in the last decade alone.
Balloon Sinuplasty is recommended to treat qualified candidates and is performed using only local anesthesia, which minimizes sensation to pain during the procedure. The best part about this procedure is that it is relatively quick and can be completed in an ENT office, meaning you do not have to stay overnight at a hospital. It has also been shown that use of these minimally invasive instruments results in less chances of postoperative pain with low maintenance treatment and a faster recovery.
Final Thoughts
In the last few years, more advances in balloon technology have taken place while improving the safety making it a popular recommendation to provide patients with a modern solution. If you are experiencing sinus issues and need personalized treatment to resolve this, speak with Lake Breeze ENT & Allergy today about any concerns. We’re here to help!
Overall, the concept of Balloon Sinuplasty is pretty simple. It involves using a small wire to pass through the nasal cavity into the affected sinus. Once it has been confirmed that the wire is in the correct sinus, a balloon-dilating catheter is slid through to the sinus drainage area. This balloon is then quickly and briefly inflated in order to widen the sinus by moving it, and its mucous membrane, outwards. The complete result is a widened sinus tract without having to remove any tissue.
But how safe is it?
While this method was initially was met with criticism from the wider medical community, several clinical studies have vouched for it as a safe and effective tool in the battle against chronic sinusitis. In fact, both the American Rhinologic Society and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery currently support these procedures and recommend them for patients. The Federal Food and Drug Administration has approved this procedure for use in tens of thousands of people in the last decade alone.
Balloon Sinuplasty is recommended to treat qualified candidates and is performed using only local anesthesia, which minimizes sensation to pain during the procedure. The best part about this procedure is that it is relatively quick and can be completed in an ENT office, meaning you do not have to stay overnight at a hospital. It has also been shown that use of these minimally invasive instruments results in less chances of postoperative pain with low maintenance treatment and a faster recovery.
Final Thoughts
In the last few years, more advances in balloon technology have taken place while improving the safety making it a popular recommendation to provide patients with a modern solution. If you are experiencing sinus issues and need personalized treatment to resolve this, speak with Lake Breeze ENT & Allergy today about any concerns. We’re here to help!
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