ENT Answers: How to Deal with Sinus Problems

Q. What exactly is a balloon sinuplasty?

A. Balloon sinuplasty is a surgical procedure utilizing balloons to dilate the openings of various sinuses. The balloon is then deflated and removed, providing a larger opening for the sinus to drain. 

Q. What is the benefit of having the surgery?

A. The biggest advantage of this procedure is that it doesn’t require cutting of any tissue in the area to be dilated, which means faster healing and less scar tissue. The balloons are inserted into a particular sinus and inflated to enlarge the opening into the sinus. Also, because a balloon sinuplasty does not involve cutting of tissue in the area of the opening to be dilated, it may be less uncomfortable for the patient as compared to more traditional surgery.  However, in some instances, sinus tissue may have to be cut in a procedure utilizing a balloon sinuplasty in order to expose the opening to be dilated, resulting in some discomfort even after a balloon sinuplasty.

Q. How is balloon sinuplasty different from other types of sinus surgeries?

A. Balloon sinuplasty is simply another technique in the surgical armamentarium to enlarge the openings into the sinuses to provide drainage of the sinuses. The other techniques involve cutting larger openings or creating larger drainage areas for the sinuses to drain. 

Q. How do you know you’re a candidate for this procedure?

A. There are really no strict guidelines as to who would be a candidate for use of balloon sinuplasty.  I generally perform it on infected frontal sinuses, however some physicians use balloon sinuplasty for dilation of other sinuses, other than the frontal sinuses.

Q. What’s the main cause of sinus problems for most people?

A. Sinusitis is a multi-factorial disorder with a variety of factors involved.  One cause is the presence of an acute bacterial sinus infection, as it causes blockage to the opening of the sinus due to swelling by the infection. Another cause of sinus problems is allergies which can be better controlled by identifying the triggers, such as dust or pollens, and eliminating exposure to them, if possible.

Q. What are common symptoms associated with sinus problems?

A. The classic symptoms of a sinus infection include nasal congestion or obstruction, discolored nasal drainage, and headaches.  Other common symptoms include teeth pain and loss of sense of smell.  At times, it can be very difficult to differentiate a sinus infection from a viral upper respiratory infection, as they have the same symptoms.  A viral upper respiratory infection, however, will usually start to improve after 5-7 days.

About this week’s ENT Answers doctor: James Chow, MD

Dr. James Chow joined Midwest ENT in 2005. He has devoted his professional life to finding relief for sinus sufferers and is well founded in the fundamentals of sinus anatomy, physiology, and surgery. Dr. Chow has continually received additional training and certification in the areas of Otolaryngology. From medical school to the present, he has continued the pursuit of excellence in sinus care with an emphasis on nasal and sinus disease.