Question: I was diagnosed with a chronic runny nose due to having a small nasal opening for drainage and a deviated septum. Am I a Balloon Sinuplasty candidate?
Answer:
Balloon sinuplasty is a wonderful new technique for opening the sinuses. Sinuses are small air filled pockets around the nose that drain into the nose. If blocked, we can get recurrent infections of the sinuses. Balloon sinuplasty is a non-surgical technique in which we find the opening of the sinus, thread a small catheter into the opening, and then briefly inflate the balloon- widening the drainage site. We then remove the balloon. The results have been excellent with this procedure. There is no down time and sinuplasty is done in the office with just a local anesthetic.
You can read more about this on our web site- below
http://www.nysinuscenter.com/2011/01/balloon-sinuplasty/#more-535
Unfortunately, to date, we have not been using balloons to straighten a twisted (or deviated) septum. The septum is the center wall of the nose, and while it is never straight, a significant bending or twisting can block up the nasal passages or even make one more susceptible to sinus infections.
If the sinuses are sinuses are blocked, then sinuplasty may have a role in your care.
If you’re in the NY area, we’d be happy to evaluate you and determine if you are a good balloon sinuplasty candidate, here at the NY Sinus Center.
I hope this clears things up.
Robert Pincus MD
Co-Director NY Sinus Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to open blocked sinus drainage pathways. A small catheter with a balloon at its tip is inserted into the sinus opening and briefly inflated, which widens the drainage site without cutting tissue. This helps restore normal sinus drainage and reduces infections.
No, balloon sinuplasty is not used to treat a deviated septum. While it effectively opens blocked sinus drainage pathways, it does not straighten or correct a twisted septum, which is the central wall of the nose.
Patients with blocked sinuses causing recurrent infections or drainage problems due to narrow sinus openings may be good candidates for balloon sinuplasty. Evaluation by a specialist is necessary to determine if the procedure is suitable for their specific nasal anatomy and symptoms.
Balloon sinuplasty is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure typically performed under local anesthesia in an office setting. It involves no tissue removal, has no downtime, and offers excellent results in opening sinus drainage pathways, unlike traditional sinus surgery which can be more invasive and require longer recovery.
Balloon sinuplasty is generally performed in the office setting with just a local anesthetic. This approach eliminates the need for general anesthesia, making the procedure safer and more convenient for patients.
If you are in the New York area and believe you may benefit from balloon sinuplasty, you can schedule an evaluation at the NY Sinus Center. Specialists there can assess your nasal anatomy and symptoms to determine your candidacy for the procedure.
