More than 30 million Americans suffer from a sinus condition. Sinuses are hollow cavities in the skull located in the cheekbones, the low-center forehead, and between the eyes. Their function is believed to be that of filtering the air we breathe. The most common types of sinus conditions are infection (acute sinusitis), chronic sinusitis (chronic rhino-sinusitis), allergic rhinitis, deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy and nasal polyps.
The goal of surgery is to improve sinus drainage. This may involve removing infected or damaged tissue, removing bone to create a wider opening, or removing polyps. Nasal Surgery performed by Otolaryngologists like those at Allen-ent.com are an option for patients that do respond to other medical therapies. Two procedures currently done are Balloon Sinuplasty and sinus implants (Propel).
- Balloon Sinuplasty -; This method is less invasive as it does not involve cutting of nasal bone or tissue. The inflamed sinuses are opened in the same manner that heart surgeons open blocked arteries. The procedure can be performed in the doctors office under local anesthesia so no need for a hospital stay. Recovery time is quick with most people returning to normal activities within two days. In a study that tracked patients two years post surgery, most patients reported clinically meaningful improvement in their sinus symptoms.
- Sinus Implants -; Endoscopic surgery is a procedure to remove blockages in the sinuses that typically plague sufferers of chronic sinusitis. Recent advancements in technology sinus surgery now usually performed entirely through the nose using a nasal endoscope. The end result is minimal nasal packing, mild pain and shorter recovery period. In a small percent of patients the symptoms return. To help improve upon a successful operation surgeons often prescribe steroids. This helps result in swelling and scarring within the nasal passages. A new medical implant device used to treat inflammation, called Propel meta some furoate implant or Propel for short, achieves the same result without the side effects of taking oral steroids. Inserted at the end of the surgery it dissolves over a 4 to 6 week period the releasing steroids and does require removal.
Before opting for Nasal Surgery people, often try decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, nasal washes, Neti Pot treatments, oral antihistamines and antibiotics. If your doctor diagnoses you with chronic sinusitis, you’ve followed treatment for 4 to 6 weeks, and you’ve had a CT scan confirming severe blockage or polyps, then surgery may be the best choice.
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