In this plain English guide to balloon sinuplasty surgery for a deviated septum, we cover everything you need to know about this common surgical procedure:
And much more. Let’s get started:
What is Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery?
Balloon sinuplasty surgery is an alternative approach to treat chronic rhinosinusitis (inflammation of nose and sinuses) due to blockage of sinus opening. It uses a small, flexible balloon catheter which when inserted into the sinus and inflated, enlarges the sinus opening. This allows draining of the accumulated mucus (slimy substance) in the sinus, relieving from sinus congestion and associated infections.1Lofgren DH, Shermetaro C. Balloon Sinuplasty. [Updated 2020 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan
Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery Procedure Steps
The steps that followed during a balloon sinuplasty procedure are2Stewart, A. E., & Vaughan, W. C. (2010). Balloon Sinuplasty Versus Surgical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10(3), 181–187.
The sinus region is anesthetized and a guidewire is inserted into the sinus with the help of an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera).
The correct positioning of the guide wire in the sinus is confirmed. A deflated balloon catheter is inserted along the guide wire into the sinus opening (sinus ostia).
After confirming the position, the balloon is slowly inflated.
The balloon is inflated until the sinus opening is enlarged, permitting draining of accumulated mucus from clogged sinus. Saline is injected through the catheter to flush the sinus and remove the remaining mucus and pus.
The device is then removed.
Effectiveness of Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery
Studies of balloon sinuplasty surgery show that the surgery is effective in enlarging the sinus opening without excessive removal of soft tissue or bone, or even injuring the surrounding structures. With this technique, individuals experience minimal trauma, pain, and bleeding, and tend to recover faster when compared to conventional procedures.
Research suggests that reduction in the symptoms were observed in ~95% of individuals and ~73% of individuals were symptom free.3Taghi, A. S., Khalil, S. S., Mace, A. D., & Saleh, H. A. (2009). Balloon Sinuplasty™: balloon-catheter dilation of paranasal sinus ostia for chronic rhinosinusitis. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 6(4), 377–382.
What to Expect After Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery?
After the balloon sinuplasty procedure, patients can expect4Hur K, Ge M, Kim J, Ference EH. Adverse Events Associated with Balloon Sinuplasty: A MAUDE Database Analysis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jan;162(1):137-141.
Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery Recovery
To recover from balloon sinuplasty surgery, patients are advised to5Lofgren DH, Shermetaro C. Balloon Sinuplasty. [Updated 2020 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan
Precautions After Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery
After the balloon sinuplasty procedure, patients should follow these precautions for 7-10 days after the surgery:6Endoscopic Sinus Surgery - CSOHNS
Balloon Sinuplasty Pain After Surgery
Research suggests that after balloon sinuplasty surgery the level of pain that patients feel is less in comparison to conventional surgeries. Balloon sinuplasty causes minimal intrusion to the bone and mucosa while enlarging the sinus opening. As a result, reduced postoperative pain and morbidities are observed.7Catalano, P. J. (2013). Balloon Dilation Technology: Let the Truth Be Told. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 13(2), 250–254.
Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery Side Effects
Potential side effects of the balloon sinuplasty surgery include pain, and redness and bruising of skin beneath the eyes for short duration. In rare cases, a leak of cerebrospinal fluid (the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord) is observed.8Taghi, A. S., Khalil, S. S., Mace, A. D., & Saleh, H. A. (2009). Balloon Sinuplasty™: balloon-catheter dilation of paranasal sinus ostia for chronic rhinosinusitis. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 6(4), 377–382. Its occurrence is very rare and observed in 0.01% patients.9Cingi, C., Bayar Muluk, N., & Lee, J. T. (2018). Current indications for balloon sinuplasty. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
Pros and Cons of Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery
When deciding whether or not to have this procedure done for your deviated septum, consider these pros and cons:
Pros of Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery:10Stewart AE, Vaughan WC. Balloon sinuplasty versus surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2010 May;10(3):181-7.
Cons of Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery:11Levine, H., & Rabago, D. (2011). Balloon Sinuplasty: A Minimally Invasive Option for Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Postgraduate Medicine, 123(2), 112–118. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.03.2269
Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery Videos
Here are some excellent videos that show the balloon sinuplasty procedure:
Frequently Asked Questions – Balloon Sinuplasty Surgery
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions related to balloon sinuplasty surgery:
The short answer is No.
The balloon sinuplasty surgery can be performed in office settings under local anesthesia and doesn’t require any hospitalization. Patients are treated under “Day care” and discharged with oral antibiotics and postoperative instructions.12Raghunandhan, S., Bansal, T., Natarajan, K., & Kameswaran, M. (2012). Efficacy & Outcomes of Balloon Sinuplasty in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Prospective Study. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 65(S2), 314–319.
Research suggests the average time taken to perform balloon sinuplasty surgery is ~75 minutes.13Levine HL, Sertich AP, Hoisington D et al (2008) A multi-center registry of balloon catheter sinusotomy outcomes for 1,036 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 117:263–270.
Research suggests that ~85-90% of the patients got relief from symptoms in the first week after the surgery. Most patients resume work within 24 hours after the surgery.14Catalano, P. J. (2013). Balloon Dilation Technology: Let the Truth Be Told. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 13(2), 250–254.
The cost of balloon sinuplasty surgery is ~$10,000 in the USA.15Levine, H., & Rabago, D. (2011). Balloon Sinuplasty: A Minimally Invasive Option for Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Postgraduate Medicine, 123(2), 112–118. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.03.2269
- 1Lofgren DH, Shermetaro C. Balloon Sinuplasty. [Updated 2020 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan
- 2Stewart, A. E., & Vaughan, W. C. (2010). Balloon Sinuplasty Versus Surgical Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 10(3), 181–187.
- 3Taghi, A. S., Khalil, S. S., Mace, A. D., & Saleh, H. A. (2009). Balloon Sinuplasty™: balloon-catheter dilation of paranasal sinus ostia for chronic rhinosinusitis. Expert Review of Medical Devices, 6(4), 377–382.
- 4Hur K, Ge M, Kim J, Ference EH. Adverse Events Associated with Balloon Sinuplasty: A MAUDE Database Analysis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jan;162(1):137-141.
- 5Endoscopic Sinus Surgery - CSOHNS
- 6Catalano, P. J. (2013). Balloon Dilation Technology: Let the Truth Be Told. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 13(2), 250–254.
- 7Cingi, C., Bayar Muluk, N., & Lee, J. T. (2018). Current indications for balloon sinuplasty. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery
- 8Stewart AE, Vaughan WC. Balloon sinuplasty versus surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2010 May;10(3):181-7.
- 9Levine, H., & Rabago, D. (2011). Balloon Sinuplasty: A Minimally Invasive Option for Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Postgraduate Medicine, 123(2), 112–118. doi:10.3810/pgm.2011.03.2269
- 10Raghunandhan, S., Bansal, T., Natarajan, K., & Kameswaran, M. (2012). Efficacy & Outcomes of Balloon Sinuplasty in Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Prospective Study. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 65(S2), 314–319.
- 11Levine HL, Sertich AP, Hoisington D et al (2008) A multi-center registry of balloon catheter sinusotomy outcomes for 1,036 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 117:263–270.
Leave a Reply