Cutting-Edge Sinus Treatment Offers New Hope

ABC News ^ | 4/6/06 | ABC News

[stlnative]

April 6, 2006 — It's an annual rite of passage for those who suffer from seasonal allergies: sinuses so blocked it's difficult to breathe, a recurring headache, a feeling of constant "pressure" on the face.

But for people like Michele Lynch who suffer from chronic sinusitis, allergy season seems to last all year. "I couldn't work. You can't breathe. I couldn't sleep," she said.

Lynch, 24, had suffered from sinusitis most of her life — the result of abnormal bone growth in her sinuses. But a few weeks ago, doctors suggested she try a radically new treatment that's been available in the United States only since December.

The procedure, called balloon sinuplasty, opens sinus cavities the same way doctors open clogged arteries when they do a balloon angioplasty.

~SNIP~ (More at link)

[stlnative]

I sure would be willing to have this done just to see if it would help with my sinusitis.

Has any Freeper's had it done? If so, I would like to hear if it help you or not.

[kinoxi]

if it's such a benign procedure why do they need general anesthesia. i had my wisdom teeth out with local, and this can't hurt as much

[stlnative]

I found this also...

New Treatment Balloon Sinuplasty May Help Sinusitis Sufferers

http://www.newsdial.com/sinusitis/balloon-sinuplasty.html

[Solamente]

"Up ya nose wit a rubber hose!"

[LdSentinal]

Isn't this similar to correcting a nose's deviated septum?

[GSlob]

Lucky you. In the USSR they used to do extractions and root canals without any anesthesia. It was character building.

[stlnative]

Google search for "balloon sinuplasty"

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-33,GGLG:en&q=balloon+sinuplasty

[stlnative]

Pictures of how it is done are here...

http://www.acclarent.com/professional/balloon.html

[kinoxi]

it has been done all over the world without anesthesia. you might be referring to some of the stalinist's pet projects

[GSlob]

I am referring to something I had had to endure myself - and more than once - before I fot the ef out of there. In the 60s and 70s - way after Stalin's demise - it was the SOP.

[GSlob]

fot=got. A typo.

[goodnesswins]

I had a "deviated septum" corrected.....that was REMOVAL of some of the internal parts of the nose....NOT this procedure.

[GSlob]

It is not good to be a deviant. "Thou shalt not deviate' - and it applies to the nasal septa as well.

[Sans-Culotte]

I had a deviated septum correction as well. In fact, I had the "basic" sinus operation. The pretty much drill out your sinuses. The way they correct a deviated septum the "basic" way: they pull it out of your nose, and they pulverise it until it is pretty well broken up. Then, they put it back into your nose, but with plastic shields around it it to make certain that it heals in a straight position.

They stuff tampons and "packing" up your nose until everything heals and the septum is straight.

It was really quite an ordeal. Keeping your nose crammed with stuff for a couple of weeks, while you cannot breathe is very frustrating.

However, once everything had been pulled out, I was a lot better. Before the surgery, I had become a nasal spray junkie; needing nasal spray often just to keep breathing. I have used no nasal spray (aside form saline) for several years. When I breathe out my nose, I can feel wind whooshing out from it. If the new method works, w/o all the hassle I went through, it sounds pretty good.

[stlnative]

an answer to your question most likely will be found here...
http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?StoryID=21254520

Feasibility and procedural success was demonstrated through 100% dilation of the target sinuses.


The Balloon Sinuplasty Procedure

After placing a small guiding catheter into the nose under endoscopic vision, a small guidewire is introduced into the sinus targeted for therapy. Once the sinus is accessed, a proprietary balloon device developed by Acclarent, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA) called the Relieva(TM) Sinus Balloon Catheter is introduced into the swollen sinus passageway under x-ray guidance. The Relieva Sinus Balloon catheter is then dilated, gently restructuring and widening the walls of the passageway, maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining and allowing for immediate drainage of trapped secretions.

"This technology is indeed an eye opener and should make sinus surgery more complete," said Dr. Michael Setzen from Manhasset, NY, "The Balloon Sinuplasty procedure is extremely exciting and will be beneficial to both sinus surgeons and patients."

[philetus]

How much does it cost to have a specialist stick a ballon in your nose and inflate it?

[stlnative]

I don't know.

This is a new procedure!

You can look up ENT's that are trained and certified to do it here... (unfortunately there are no ENT's near me yet that do it)

http://www.acclarent.com

[philetus]

I've seen people stick snakes, worms, strings, etc. in their nose and out their mouths.
I think I can stick a ballon through and have my wife blow it up.
If I can find a package of the skinny ballons clowns make animals with, the whole procedure would only cost a couple bucks.What do you think?

[stlnative]

A couple of bucks! No way... a clown sculpting balloon is probably only a 5 cents. Heck you might find a clown that will give you one for free with maybe a little clown slobber on it. Just have your wife clean it with some rubbing alcohol :-)

Let me know how it turns out...! But I do think I will wait until an ENT doc offers the procedure in my area!

[stlnative]

Just stop by the local Democrat headquarters in your area you will find plenty of balloon blowing-twisting clowns hanging around there!