ments have made a tremendous difference," says Dr. Zadeh.
Office-based sinuplasty won't work for patients whose nasal path-
ways are too narrow, however. Surgeons determine the width of the
nasal passage preoperatively with an imaging test or during the pre-op
evaluation by inserting a thin metallic rod with a camera on the end
and a light at the tip in the nose. If that tool, which is used to locate
the part of the sinus cavity that is narrowed and clogged, can fit into
the patient, that almost always means the balloon will fit as well.
"At this point, the only reason for this procedure to be done in an
OR is if the patient simply cannot tolerate the pain of having anything
inserted in their nose, or if the sinuplasty is being done concurrently
with another ENT procedure," says Dr. Zadeh.
Other sinus procedures are making their way to the office as well.
For example, says Dr. Zadeh, a septoplasty balloon has been manufac-
tured for correcting deviated septums as an alternative to the tradi-
tional surgery that requires an incision.
2. Prostatic urethral lift
This procedure is seen as a possible replacement for transurethral
resections of the prostate (TURP), the main surgical intervention for
men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The condition is
common — 50% of men in their 50s have it, as do more than 90% of
those 80 and older.
Many men with BPH get it treated due to quality-of-life issues,
including difficulty urinating, having to urinate many times throughout
the night and incontinence. If allowed to progress untreated, serious
medical conditions from an enlarged prostate can occur, including ret-
rograde ejaculation, bladder failure and kidney damage.
The prostatic urethral lift is popular with patients who don't want to
experience the side effects of other therapies. Medications that relax
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