• Balloon sinuplasty is a straightforward procedure with minimal complications.
• 91% of patients said they would have the procedure again.
• 85% of patients reported improvement two years after having the procedure.
Sinus experts are recommending balloon sinuplasty, a simple, minimally invasive procedure, for people suffering from chronic sinusitis.
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005, the balloon sinuplasty procedure has been called the “smart surgery” due to its minimally invasive technique and short recovery time.
"Balloon sinuplasty is offered in the office, which means no hospitals and those extra hidden fees are avoided," Dr. John Stewart at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said. "This procedure is minimally invasive, safe, painless, fast and effective. This procedure typically takes around 30 minutes, and then you are on your way back home."
According to Healthline, balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward and patients reported that complications are minimal. Studies showed that patients who chose in-office balloon sinuplasty, on average, needed only 1.4 days of recovery, compared to 4.2 days for patients with traditional surgical interventions, according to the medical journal Laryngoscope.
The procedure is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. It is less expensive, because it can be performed in a doctor's office, as compared to the procedure done in a hospital setting, and is typically covered by insurance, according to GoodRx Health.
A study showed that early intervention not only increases patients' quality of life but also provides lasting relief and reduces out-of-pocket health care costs. An Economics of Chronic Rhinosinusitis study showed that the estimated annual economic burden of sinusitis on patients is between $10 and $13 billion annually.
Patients tolerate in-office balloon sinuplasty procedures well, with people reporting an average pain score of 2.8 out of 10, with 10 being the most painful, said the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy. Ninety-one percent of patients said they would have a balloon procedure again, while less than 50% of functional endoscopic sinus surgery patients said they would have the procedure again.
A previous study by Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation concluded that 85% of patients still reported improvements in their sinus symptoms two years after having the procedure.
Symptoms of sinus disease include inflammation of the sinuses, sinus headache, maxillary sinus pain and thick discolored discharge, according to Mayo Clinic.
To learn more about the balloon sinuplasty procedure, begin by taking a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
