Balloon Sinuplasty is an in-office procedure performed by ear, nose and throat surgeons that uses minimally invasive balloon technology to treat blocked sinuses that do not respond to medications. This minimally invasive process helps individuals who experience discomfort that does not subside with treatment alone.
A balloon catheter is placed into the nasal cavity to insert a saline solution that will open sinus passages and relieve built-up pressure.
What Causes Bleeding?
Sinus inflammation and blockages cause pain, nasal congestion, and pressure – symptoms which over time can interfere with breathing and reduce quality of sleep. When medications and other treatments don’t bring relief, surgery may be the solution; however traditional sinus surgery requires lengthy recovery periods while balloon sinuplasty offers minimally invasive alternatives performed by ear, nose and throat physicians in their offices or clinics under local anesthesia.
Your doctor will use an endoscope with light and camera attached into your nasal passages and sinus cavities to gently enter and assess them. Once they reach a sinus cavity, your doctor places a specialized sinus balloon into its passageway that gradually inflates, realigning bones inside of it while widening it gradually over time. Once widening is complete, they remove the balloon before flushing your sinuses with a saline solution to drain off debris build-up from its passageways.
Bleeding after sinus surgery is a normal side effect; however, you should only become concerned if the bleeding lasts more than 24 hours. If this occurs it is important to contact your physician as quickly as possible as sinus infection could be the source of it all.
Most patients notice their symptoms improve within a week of having the procedure, with many returning to work or other normal activities soon afterwards. Some individuals may experience slight sinus headaches and nasal congestion afterward; however, this can easily be managed using over-the-counter pain relievers such as Excedrin or Motrin or prescribed pain killers.
Balloon sinuplasty has helped millions of patients breathe easier by relieving chronic sinus inflammation and blockages. If other treatments have not provided relief for your sinusitis symptoms, speak to your physician to explore other available solutions that could bring relief and restore an improved quality of life.
Symptoms of Bleeding
Balloon Sinuplasty is an in-office procedure used to treat chronic sinusitis. This minimally invasive alternative to FESS, which requires cutting and bone removal under general anesthesia, has proven more effective and quicker to recover from than its counterpart. Balloon Sinuplasty works particularly well when treating patients who experience recurrent episodes that do not respond to medications or other treatments options.
Doctors begin the procedure by applying topical decongestant and an anesthetic spray in the nose. After making sure your nose is numb, they’ll insert a thin guidance wire with flashlight at its tip into your nasal cavity to guide a catheter with an inflatable balloon attached at its end – once they know they have made sure it has entered your sinus passage, the balloon can then be gently expanded or restructured by inflating itself and gradually expanding and restructurating its walls to alleviate built up pressure buildup and release all at once!
As the balloon inflates, it may cause minimal bleeding in the nasal cavity that typically subsides once removed from its course. Although this does not alter the outcome of the procedure, discomfort and potential pain may result. These can usually be eased with over-the-counter analgesics like ibuprofen or aspirin for relief afterward. Typically, patients must sleep with their heads elevated for two days following such procedures to promote healing and restfulness.
Immediately seek medical assistance if you experience bleeding following sinus surgery. Bleeding can be dangerous for those who have blood-clotting disorders like hemophilia. People taking blood thinners for conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure also face increased risks due to these drugs preventing their bodies from clotting properly and thus increasing the chance of bleeding.
For questions and guidance regarding the risks and complications of sinus surgery, speak to an ear, nose and throat doctor. They can determine whether you qualify as a good candidate for this form of treatment and offer further insight into recovery timeframes for you personally.
Diagnosis of Bleeding
Balloon Sinuplasty is an efficient and noninvasive treatment option for chronic sinusitis, an illness characterized by painful nasal congestion and pressure. This noninvasive procedure can be performed in your doctor’s office under local anesthesia, making it less invasive than traditional sinus surgery which typically involves cutting and removal of bone and tissue requiring general anesthesia in an operating room setting.
Since more than 15 years, this minimally invasive endoscopic procedure has been widely utilized. Similar to an angioplasty procedure for the sinuses, it has become a staple of treatment options available from ENTs and is highly effective at unblocking blocked sinuses while having less side effects such as pain, bleeding, bruising and swelling compared to more invasive procedures.
Before inserting a flexible wire with a small balloon at its tip into your nostril, your doctor will first apply local or topical anesthesia to your nose before inserting a flexible wire that has an inflatable balloon attached at its end into your nostril. After inflating this balloon and widening your sinus passageway, they will remove both balloon and wire; most people can return home within a few hours after the effects of anesthesia have worn off.
Initial nasal drainage after surgery may appear bloody-tinged; however, this is completely normal and will eventually change into clear discharge. If you experience excessive bleeding or nosebleeds that do not stop on their own, please notify your physician immediately.
Outside of bleeding, symptoms after sinus procedures often include stuffiness that will last several days as a result of inflammation in the tissues. At this time, use saline rinses prescribed by your doctor to flush out mucus and prevent infection while using over-the-counter sinus medication to ease any discomfort. It’s wise to rest for several days following your procedure in order to speed up recovery time.
Treatment of Bleeding
FDA-cleared sinus balloon catheters are inserted through one nostril and placed directly within an inflamed sinus, before inflating to widen its opening and restore normal airflow and drainage of mucus and airway obstruction. Once restored, the balloon catheter can be taken away leaving behind an open sinus space – in about an hour’s time! Compared with traditional Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), which involves cutting into tissue removal as part of its procedure in hospitals or surgical centers under general anesthesia and usually requires 4 weeks recovery post surgery!
After surgery, it is common to experience bloody nasal discharge for three to five days following their procedure, caused by old blood and mucus clearing out your sinus passages and not an indication of an infection. Pain relief may also be available via acetaminophen. Most patients find relief shortly thereafter and are back to their daily activities.
Balloon Sinuplasty is an effective treatment option for recurrent sinus infections and chronic sinusitis that does not respond to medications, and can be used either alone or combined with other methods like endoscopic sinus surgery and injections. The procedure is safe with low risks of complications.
After having undergone balloon sinuplasty, it’s crucial that you follow your doctor’s instructions for the fastest and most comfortable recovery possible. Be sure to rest as much as possible for at least the first week following surgery; avoid exerting pressure or strain on your nose and any potential irritants such as tobacco smoke or perfume; sleep with your head elevated so as to reduce swelling and promote healing; use nasal spray or drops for congestion relief, and only blow your nose gently with soft tissues.
Dr. Gould can offer personalized care to help you breathe easier and live a healthier lifestyle. His sinus balloon catheter could be just what’s necessary. To discuss other treatment options for chronic sinusitis, set up an appointment with him today and discuss your needs as an individual.
