About Chronic Sinusitis & Balloon Sinuplasty
Chronic sinusitis affects 40 million Americans per year and causes symptoms such as facial pain or pressure, headaches, nasal congestion, post-nasal drainage, fatigue, and decreased sense of smell. It can also cause serious health complications, including visual changes and meningitis. For most patients, chronic sinusitis symptoms can be managed medically with nasal saline irrigation, nasal steroids, allergy testing and treatment, as well as with antibiotics and oral steroids, when necessary. However, some patients have persistent or recurrent sinusitis in spite of proper medical management, or complicated sinusitis where sinus procedures are beneficial. Traditional sinus surgery has evolved over the last decades with advancements in endoscopic surgery, and a wide array of precise instruments, and 3D CT image guided sinus surgery meant for tumors, nasal polyp patients, and revision sinus surgeries. The recent trend towards minimally invasive and office based procedures in all surgical fields, however, has altered the surgical management for some sinusitis patients in the last decade. Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively new technology for managing sinusitis in certain, appropriately screened patients. The procedure can be done in an operating room or office setting with adequate, thorough topical and local anesthesia. The procedure uses a small balloon advanced over a digitally controlled soft wire to dilate the natural doorways to the sinuses and ostia. The procedure is associated with little pain or bleeding, minimal risks, and can be performed in less than one hour. Research has shown that this procedure can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of sinus symptoms in appropriate patients. Dr. Lindstrom has more than 15 years of training and experience with the latest medical and surgical management of sinusitis, including balloon sinuplasty, and has achieved uniformly excellent outcomes. Call Dr. Lindstrom ENT at 321-802-6697 for an appointment if you feel that sinusitis may be affecting your quality of life!