Hoosier State Today

For nearly two decades people suffering from sinus issues have had a safe, mostly painless procedure called a balloon sinuplasty, which is a chronic inflammation solution recommended by ears, nose and throat specialists across the country.

According to healthline.com, the sinuplasty is a procedure approved in 2005 by the Food and Drug Administration also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery. It clears blocked sinuses and is often called the “smart sinus” procedure.

Dr. Nicholas C. Hollenkamp of the Indianapolis Sinus Center speaks highly of the surgery, saying that the procedure does not involve cutting away bone and leaving scarring like surgeries in the past that could be traumatic. He said it is also a surgery that is easier to recover from.

“I think it's a game changer,” Hollenkamp said. “I think it's really helped people tremendously, and they recover a lot quicker, they have less pain.”

Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for those with chronic sinusitis, which can cause headaches and pressure in the face and head for extended periods. It is usually used as a chronic inflammation solution after other treatments have not been effective. 

The sinuplasty can be performed in a hospital or at the office of an ear, nose and throat specialist, while under local or general anesthesia. The doctor inserts a small flashlight at the end of a wire that goes into the sinus, followed by a balloon catheter. The balloon is slowly inflated to expand the sinus, flushing out built up pus and mucus with saline. This leads to a decrease in pressure. While the balloon is in the sinus passage it restores the bones as well. The balloon is then removed and the sinus passage is left widened and free of pressure. 

“The ideal patient for a balloon sinuplasty is one who has a lot of chronic sinus problems, recurring sinus infections and pressure,” Hollenkamp said. “It’s more than one who has some sinus disease, but not the overwhelmingly bad sinus disease such as tremendous polyps and things like that. It does help those people. But I think it's more for the patient who has the kind of mild to moderate sinusitis that you can help by opening those passageways and get some relief without needing to do the more traumatic ethmoidectomy surgeries and things like that.”

To check symptoms and to see if a balloon sinuplasty is right for you, there is a quiz at the Indianapolis Sinus Center website.