Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic health problems in the U.S., affecting 37 million Americans each year. Especially in the Upstate South Carolina region, allergies and sinus issues can cause a tremendous amount of pain and difficulty
Chronic Sinu
Sinusitis causes pressure and pain in your head and face and can significantly impact your physical, functional and emotional quality of life. With chronic sinusitis, the infection or inflammation does not completely go away for 8 weeks or more.
The same viruses that cause the common cold cause most cases of sinusitis. When the lining of the sinus cavities gets inflamed from a viral infection like a cold, it swells. This is viral sinusitis. The swelling can block the normal drainage of fluid from the sinuses into the nose and throat. If the fluid cannot drain and builds up over time, bacterial or fungal infections can develop, causing more swelling and pain. They are more likely to last longer, get worse with time, and become chronic.
Symptoms of sinusitis include facial pain, pressure, headaches, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, or loss of taste or smell. If you experience recurrent sinus infections that don't seem to get better with medication, you could be a candidate for sinus surgery.
Treatment with Sinus Surgery
When medical therapy such as antibiotics and topical nasal steroids no longer control sinusitis symptoms, sinus surgery is an option. During sinus surgery, blocked sinus passageways are re-opened, restoring normal sinus drainage and function.
In the past, sinus surgery involved an open incision which required bone and tissue removal in order to open blocked sinus passageways. Now, sinus surgery can be completed completely through the nostrils, leaving no scar and making recovery much easier for the patient.
Balloon Sinuplasty
St. Francis offers an evolution in sinus surgery by using Balloon Sinuplasty technology. When sinus surgery is performed with this new technology, a small, flexible balloon catheter is placed through the nostril into the blocked sinus passageway. Then the balloon is inflated, gently restructuring and opening the sinus passageway, restoring normal sinus drainage and function.
Balloon Sinuplasty enables physicians to treat sinusitis entirely through the nostrils, and in many cases without tissue or bone removal. This approximately 10 minute procedure can enable many patients can return to work within 1-2 days.
Edoscopic Sinus Surgery
In endoscopic sinus surgery, small surgical instruments and a small camera are inserted into the nostrils, providing the doctor with an inside view of the sinuses. During the procedure, the doctor removes small amounts of bone or other material blocking the sinus openings. In some cases a laser is used to burn away tissue blocking the sinus opening. A small rotating burr that scrapes away tissue may also be used.
Endoscopic sinus surgery does not cause visible scarring, and it is often performed on an outpatient basis, resulting in a shorter recovery than traditional sinus surgery.
If you experience chronic sinusitis, visit a Bon Secours Medical Group ENT physician to learn which option could be right for you.
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