What is balloon sinuplasty?
A balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive technique used to treat sinus conditions such as infections and chronic sinusitis. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005.
The procedure involves passing a small, deflated balloon into the nose with assistance from an endoscope. It is inflated while positioned in the passageway of the sinus in order to gently widen that passage.
A balloon sinuplasty concludes with the sinus being flushed out with saline to remove the mucus that has been trapped in the sinus.
What are the advantages of balloon sinuplasty over traditional sinus surgery?
The following are the advantages you get as a patient undergoing balloon sinuplasty over traditional sinus surgery:
- A less invasive process as it does not require incisions to be made
- The procedure is quicker
- There is less downtime involved
- Balloon sinuplasty has fewer side effects
How much does balloon sinuplasty cost?
Am I a suitable candidate for balloon sinuplasty?
There are basic criteria that a patient needs to fulfill in order to be an appropriate candidate to receive a balloon sinuplasty. It is typically only considered when medical treatments have not provided appropriate relief.
A patient is a suitable candidate for balloon sinuplasty when they:
- Are an adult
- Have chronic or recurrent sinusitis
- Are able to tolerate a procedure under local anesthetic, which keeps them awake as it is being done
- Do not have nasal polyps or other kinds of masses in their nasal passage
- Have sinusitis which is mostly located in a specific sinus, for example, a maxillary sinus or a frontal sinus.
Is there an age limit for a balloon sinuplasty?
A balloon sinuplasty is generally not performed on children under the age of six, in any case. It is typically not performed on children in general, however, in some extenuating circumstances, the procedure may be the preferred option.
Balloon sinuplasty is typically reserved for the treatment of sinus conditions in adults. The fact that adults can better tolerate the procedure under local anesthesia, as well as the fact that the anatomy of their nasal passages is easier to navigate.
How long does the balloon sinuplasty procedure take?
Due to the fact that it is a minimally invasive procedure, a balloon sinuplasty can be performed a lot quicker than its alternatives. The typical procedure takes about an hour from commencement to conclusion.
How long is recovery after balloon sinuplasty?
Another advantage to a balloon sinuplasty being a minimally invasive procedure that requires no incisions being made is that the downtime involved is extremely short compared to its alternatives. Patients can resume their daily routine after 24 or 48 hours in the majority of cases.
The only major symptoms that patients may experience following the procedure are drowsiness, nasal congestion, tenderness around the nose, and bloody nasal discharge. However, these symptoms will usually resolve within a week following the procedure.
What to avoid after balloon sinuplasty?
After undergoing a balloon sinuplasty, patients should avoid blowing their nose for the first two days, as the nasal mucosa will likely still be inflamed and tender from the procedure.
They should generally avoid doing any activities which are strenuous, such as working out or lifting heavy loads, for a minimum of one week after undergoing the procedure.
If you feel the urge to sneeze following the procedure, it should not be suppressed. Instead, the pressure of the sneeze should be relieved through the mouth rather than the nose.
Finally, patients should avoid medications and substances that can thin the blood. This includes NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen, and alcohol.
Is a balloon sinuplasty covered by insurance?
Most insurance providers will cover a balloon sinuplasty, but it should be noted that not all of them will. However, the number of providers who are opting to cover this procedure has been on the rise, partially thanks to a statement by the American Academy of Otolaryngology in 2014.
What are some other good resources on balloon sinuplasty?
If you want to learn more about balloon sinuplasty, there are many online resources that can provide ample information on the procedure and what it entails. These resources include the following:
