What is balloon sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty is a type of endoscopic sinus procedure that allows for the non-surgical opening of sinus cavities. This has been enabled by technological advances in sinus instrumentation. The balloon instrument consists of a wire with an inflatable balloon surrounding it. The wire is passed into the sinus cavity with the aid of an endoscope, and the balloon is inflated at the opening where the sinus cavity connects with the nasal passage. This causes microfractures in the eggshell-thin bones, creating a much larger space for mucous to drain from. Occasionally, the same instrument can be used to rinse and clean the sinus cavity of its contents.
![balloon-sinuplasty-diagram]()
A wire containing a balloon is threaded into the sinus cavity and expanded, resulting in instant sinus relief.
Would I benefit from balloon sinuplasty?
All patients are evaluated on an individual basis. Typical balloon sinuplasty candidates are usually those that do not have sinus disease that warrants full functional endoscopic sinus surgery yet are still experiencing sinus issues despite being treated with medications. Another indication includes scarring from previous surgery. Occasionally, patients with frontal sinus surgery can develop scarring that starts to close the opening to the sinus. These patients are very effectively treated with a simple balloon procedure, avoiding the risk of requiring more extensive surgery later. Lastly, patients that cannot tolerate general anesthesia for one reason or another may be good candidates for this non-surgical technique.
What are the advantages of balloon sinuplasty?
When indicated, balloon sinuplasty has many advantages over traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery:
- No cuts
Because the balloon is a stretching instrument versus cutting, no incisions are required. This results in less bleeding and less post-operative pain. Additionally, crusting and swelling are typically avoided after surgery.
- No general anesthesia
General anesthesia has its own separate risks during surgery, and all of these can be avoided with balloon sinuplasty. Some patients with complicated medical histories prohibit them from undergoing surgery, making balloon sinuplasty a good option depending on the extent of disease present. Lastly, no heavy-duty anesthetics are used during a balloon sinuplasty, allowing you to return back to your normal activities directly after the procedure is performed.
- Immediate relief
Once the procedure is completed, you should experience an immediate improvement in your symptoms.
How is balloon sinuplasty performed in the clinic?
Balloon sinuplasty is performed using a combination of topical and localized anesthesia. When you arrive, you will begin the decongesting and numbing process with topical medications. Once you are sufficiently anesthetized, an endoscopic camera will be placed within the nose and structures surrounding the sinus cavity of interest are injected with more anesthesia, providing further comfort in addition to preventative control of bleeding. Afterwards, the wire from the balloon instrument will be passed into the sinus cavity and the balloon will be inflated. The high pressures will cause microfractures in the bone, which patients typically describe as pressure and crackling sensation. Afterwards, the balloon catheter is removed and the procedure is considered complete, unless multiple sinuses require treatment.
