pistol grips and other features that let you rotate the blade in a more
efficient manner," he says.
3
Balloon sinuplasty
Balloon sinuplasty may not be a new
innovation, but physicians continue to push the envelope by per-
forming this minimally invasive procedure more and more in office-
based settings. It's also one of the largest growing treatments for
sinusitis, notes Dr. Svider, who co-authored a study that showed that
balloon sinuplasty have continued to grow in popularity while tradi-
tional FESS has stayed roughly the same.
However, Dr. Zadeh says that while the procedure is beneficial to
many patients, physicians need to be sure that the treatment is
appropriate for the patient.
"One concern many have is the selection of an appropriate candi-
date for the procedure," says Dr. Zadeh. "But for those who need it,
it's an incredible treatment."
To ensure the proper patients are selected for the treatment, he sug-
gests physicians follow the American Academy of Otolaryngology's
criteria on which patients are best suited for the procedure.
The procedure can be performed in the office, under local and topi-
cal anesthesia, and patients remain awake for the procedure, allowing
for a quicker recovery, says Dr. Zadeh. The balloon catheter is insert-
ed into the inflamed sinus, typically the frontal and/or maxillary, and
inflated to expand and restructure the sinus opening. Saline is then
sprayed into the inflamed sinus to flush out pus and mucus, and the
system is removed, allowing the sinus to drain.
Dr. Zadeh, who performs balloon sinuplasties at his office, says that
there are two big benefits patients enjoy from moving this procedure
to the office. The first is that it doesn't require general anesthesia, so
patients can come, get the procedure and drive themselves home. The
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