Chronic sinusitis is often difficult to treat, yet many find relief through over-the-counter medicines like decongestants, nasal sprays and saline rinses.
An Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) performs Balloon Sinuplasty in a clinic procedure room using either general or local anesthesia. Saline rinse is used to numb the nose before inserting and inflating a balloon catheter catheter in one or more sinus openings.
1. Fever
An infection of the sinus can make life challenging, making breathing, sleeping, and enjoying life difficult. There are various over-the-counter and home remedies that may help manage symptoms until they clear away on their own. If this doesn’t provide relief then balloon sinuplasty could provide additional relief.
Procedures may be performed either in hospital, ambulatory-surgery settings, or the doctor’s office using local anesthesia. A computerized tomography scan will be used to visualize and identify any blocked areas, while then inserting a catheter with wires attached and balloon attached at its tip which will be inflated to open sinus cavities. Another catheter may then be used to flush out these sinuses using a saline solution in order to flush away any buildup of mucus or pus that has built up over time.
After surgery, you should expect some bloody drainage and runny nose as part of the natural healing process. Swelling and congestion may occur as your body recovers; these effects should pass in due time.
Before going in for a sinus procedure, be sure to bring a list of all medications you take – this includes prescription, over-the-counter and herbal supplements. In addition, remove any jewelry such as piercings. Moreover, discuss any health issues such as heart disease or diabetes so your physician can ascertain whether you qualify. The more prepared you are for the process, the more successful will be your recovery.
2. Pain
Pain after sinus procedures is common and should last no more than 24 hours; if this persists, be sure to contact your physician.
Chronic sinus pain is a widespread issue that affects millions of people and has serious repercussions for quality of life. Over-the-counter remedies like decongestants, mucous thinning agents and nasal sprays may provide temporary relief, while others find relief through prescription and alternative therapies such as balloon sinuplasty. However, sometimes medications and treatments do not provide lasting relief and only mask symptoms temporarily; balloon sinuplasty may offer more lasting relief by opening blocked sinus passages permanently.
Penn Medicine Becker ENT & Allergy specialists provide safe, minimally-invasive balloon sinuplasty in-office procedures to provide immediate and long-lasting relief from chronic sinusitis pain. Unlike more invasive alternatives such as packing or stitches, balloon sinuplasty offers immediate and long-term relief without packing or stitches being necessary.
For this procedure, patients are typically seated in a reclining examination chair while receiving numbing medication to their nose and forehead area from their doctor. Once this has taken effect, an endoscope is then used to insert a catheter into the affected sinus; once in place, slowly inflating its balloon may cause pressure within it and even crackling noises; all part of the process.
While an inflated balloon gently reshapes and opens an impacted sinus passage, it also removes built-up pus and mucus from within it. After flushing with saline solution and taking out the balloon, which leaves the sinus open while relieving symptoms associated with sinusitis – most patients can go home the same day after their procedure! During recovery it is important not to blow your nose too vigorously while engaging in activities which increase heart rate.
3. Swelling
Of course, most people experience considerable relief from sinus pain, discomfort and blockage shortly after receiving their balloon sinuplasty procedure. This is because balloon sinuplasty provides long-term relief by gently reconfiguring bones in your nose to open blocked sinus passageways.
Before your balloon sinuplasty procedure, your healthcare provider will want to make sure you are as informed as possible about its purpose and any instructions for preparation or recovery. They should explain all that may be involved.
Your healthcare provider must know if you are taking blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Plavix (clopidogrel). In such instances, these should be discontinued prior to and post surgery in order to minimize excessive bleeding risks. They may also need your insurance information so they can contact the appropriate provider and gain authorization for your procedure.
As part of your procedure, you’ll be sitting back on a reclining chair as your healthcare provider applies topical anesthetic to the surface of your nose and nostrils. Next, they will use an endoscope – a thin tube with light on its end – to guide a catheter into your nose where wires needed for transporting the balloon will be located using it.
Once in place, the balloon will be used to flush away build-up of mucus and pus which has caused pressure. After this process has completed, deflating will take place and then removal.
As you recover from surgery, it is essential to avoid blowing your nose, which can lead to swelling and congestion. Saline irrigation may help relieve these issues; another suggestion would be sleeping with your head elevated to promote drainage and healing; take over-the-counter pain medication as prescribed for best results.
4. Bleeding
Sinus infections can be a real nuisance, making even mild symptoms difficult to bear. If over-the-counter medication or home remedies haven’t helped relieve your discomfort, consider balloon sinuplasty as a permanent solution: this minimally-invasive procedure opens blocked sinus passages for easier breathing and significant decreases in symptoms.
Procedure can be performed either in a physician’s office or hospital outpatient surgery suite and usually under topical (sprayed) anesthesia or local anesthesia. In the procedure, a thin catheter with balloon-like end is guided into sinus openings through either nose or mouth and then inflated to open up sinus drainage pathways which are then drained using saline solution.
Once the procedure is over, your doctor will send home with you saline rinses to irrigate your nasal passageways and promote drainage and healing. Rinsing as often as your doctor suggests – typically four sprays in each nostril every four hours is recommended – is essential. You will also be instructed on how best to sleep and rest with your head elevated for maximum drainage and recovery.
For optimal healing after an ENT procedure, it’s wise to refrain from blowing your nose for one or two days following it. In addition, any activities which could raise your heart rate or lower your head below your chest (such as certain inversions in yoga class) until told by your physician it’s safe. If any questions arise regarding recovery process please reach out directly – your surgeon can advise what to expect and how long recovery should last.
5. Discomfort
If your sinus symptoms have persisted for more than 12 weeks, balloon sinuplasty could provide long-term relief. Through telemedicine consultation with one of your physicians, they can discuss your symptoms and evaluate whether you’d make an ideal candidate.
As part of your procedure, you’ll sit comfortably in a reclining examination chair while your doctor applies local anesthetic to the skin inside of your nostrils and uses an endoscope to see inside of your nasal passages before inserting a flexible balloon catheter into your sinus cavity and slowly inflating it for improved drainage and better sinus care. This allows the sinuses to clear out any build-up of mucus that has contributed to sinus pain or pressure and allow more efficient draining from them.
Once your sinuses have been opened, your doctor will use a saline solution to flush away any remaining mucus and prevent further build-up in future. This process ensures your sinuses stay clear from infection as well as helping stop future mucus accumulation.
Saline rinses will also help ease any post-surgery inflammation present in nasal tissues or cavities, and may help decrease any postoperative swelling that might arise as a result. In order to minimize swelling, it’s advisable to refrain from blowing your nose too frequently or engaging in activities which will bring your head below heart level for several days after surgery.
Balloon sinuplasty differs significantly from Traditional Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), which requires the removal of tissue and bone, by being less invasive with no cutting or incisions required, which leads to reduced pain, bruising and bleeding compared with FESS. Furthermore, balloon sinuplasty can often be performed more quickly within a physician’s office rather than hospitals/surgery centers, meaning patients can return back to their lives more rapidly after this procedure is done.
