New surgery helps sinus sufferers breath a little easier
New surgery helps sinus sufferers breath a little easie ... (Added: February 04, 2010)
A new procedure called sinuplasty is far less traumatic on the nasal tissue than traditional sinus surgery because there's no cutting involved. (more)Published: February 04, 2010
Janean Lott is being prepped for surgery.
This mother of two has been plagued with chronic sinus infections. Two years ago traditional sinus surgery gave her some relief.
This time she's trying a new procedure called sinuplasty.
"They said that I should be feeling better pretty quickly. That it wouldn't be nowhere's as long as last time, that it was pretty simple recovery," Lott said.
That's because a sinuplasty is far less traumatic on the nasal tissue. Unlike traditional surgery, there's no cutting involved.
"Actually when they first came out, I was very skeptical," Dr. Bradley Paddock, an otolaryngologist, said.
But now, Dr. Bradley paddock is an advocate of sinuplasty.
It works like this. The doctor visualizes the area with a lighted scope. Then a very fine, lighted wire, threaded through a special balloon, is inserted.
Much like angioplasty to open blocked heart arteries - when inflated, the balloon opens narrowed drainage channels in the sinuses.
The balloon can only open to a certain size - inflated by a calibrated machine. Green and white markings show the doctor how far to insert the balloon.
"This just goes in and it actually, what it does, it fractures when you blow up, it fractures some of the bone.. so enlarges the opening so you take a little, teeny opening that's not working, you make it bigger, but not too big, so it's it's actually more natural and it doesn't bleed as much, heals faster and you can get into some of the inaccessible sinuses," Dr. Paddock said.
We have sinuses in four different locations in our heads.
The balloon brings another benefit ... reduced risk of scarring to the treated area because there's no cutting. And scar tissue can cause the area to become narrow.
Also the imaging with sinuplasty is better than with traditional treatment.
All reasons Dr. Paddock has become a fan.
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