Balloon sinuplasty is less invasive and more easily tolerated than than functional endoscopic sinus surgery. | Pexels/Karolina Grabowska
Balloon sinuplasty is less invasive and more easily tolerated than than functional endoscopic sinus surgery. | Pexels/Karolina Grabowska
• Almost 29 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic sinusitis.
• Balloon sinuplasty is less invasive, carries and a lower risk and has a shorter recovery period than traditional sinus surgery.
• Average recovery time for a balloon sinuplasty patient is one to two days.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) says that chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions in the U.S. and can reduce a person's quality of life. Two treatment options available are functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which involves the removal of sinus tissue, and the "less traumatic" option, balloon sinuplasty, where sinuses are dilated to improve function. An NCBI study of patients who underwent one of these procedures found that those who opted for balloon sinuplasty required fewer antibiotics after the procedure.
"This is done in the office with no surgery, no general anesthesia, and the patient is coming out in about 20 minutes with very little recovery," Dr. Nicola DeLorio, an otolaryngologist with Accent Sinus Center & Head & Neck Group, told the South Jersey Sun. "It's really a lifestyle change for people. They come in on a Friday, have their procedure and return to work on Monday."
According to Dr. Bradley Eisemann of Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center in Houston, balloon sinuplasty only takes 10 to 15 minutes with a one- to two-day recovery time before returning to normal activity, compared to the one and a half to two hours in surgery and up to a four-week recovery time with FESS. While patients who undergo balloon sinuplasty might have swelling that lasts up to a week, those who opted for FESS are encouraged to avoid strenuous activities during recovery.
Eleven percent of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chronic sinusitis is responsible for 230,000 emergency room visits and 4.1 million trips to the doctor each year.
If you're interested in more information about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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