Minimally invasive procedure brings one woman relief from chronic sinusitis

Breath of Fresh Air PDF

For more than 25 years, Lynn Gagnon, a Realtor from Mount Dora, battled chronic sinusitis.

“When I smelled grass, I’d cry,” says Lynn. “Just the mere smell triggered headaches, and then my sinuses would react, creating tremendous pain.”

Lynn suffered from pressure headaches and constant sinus pressure because of a total blockage. After years of battling chronic sinusitis and undergoing traditional endoscopic sinus surgery that had no effect, Lynn opted for balloon sinuplasty surgery.

A SIMPLE PROCEDURE

During the procedure, a small, flexible balloon catheter is used to enlarge sinus passageways (air spaces behind the bones of the upper face, between the eyes, and behind the forehead, nose and cheeks). When the balloon inflates, it opens the walls of the sinus cavity, which restores drainage without damaging the lining of the sinus.

Unlike traditional methods, balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive surgery that doesn’t involve cutting, scarring or removal of bone or tissue from the nose.

THE BENEFITS OF SINUPLASTY

“With sinuplasty, we don’t remove tissue. Instead, the balloon opens those ducts, gently restructuring and widening the walls of the passageway while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining,” explains Kiran Tipirneni, MD, otolaryngologist.

Sinusitis is the most common sinus-related illness in the U.S., with about 9 million sufferers, and is caused when the delicate membranes in the sinus become inflamed, causing a blockage.

Balloon sinuplasty is an outpatient procedure that allows patients to return to normal activities quickly.

“In the past, we used a lot of packing materials up in the nose that had to be pulled out a week later. It was just miserable and painful for patients,” elaborates Dr. Tipirneni. “Now we have a soft gel that dissolves with saline spray. It’s a lot more comfortable than it used to be.”

LYNN’S EXPERIENCE

“Recovery was a piece of cake this time because the doctor didn’t have to pack my nose, and I was able to get back to my regular activities in no time,” remarks Lynn.

Additional benefits of balloon sinuplasty include reduced postoperative pain, no bruising, swelling or black eyes, and a relatively short recovery time.

Balloon sinuplasty is available at Florida Hospital Altamonte, Winter Park Memorial Hospital and Florida Hospital East Orlando.