Balloon Sinuplasty Helps Chronic Sinusitis Patients

Balloon sinuplasty technology safely opens narrow sinuses, is economical, and is highly satisfactory to chronic sinusitis patients, according to a new study.

Researchers at the Cleveland Nasal, Sinus and Sleep Center (OH, USA) and other institutions conducted a multicenter registry study of balloon catheter-sinusotomy outcomes for 1036 patients. The data were collected by standardized chart review with centralized database administration for all consecutive functional endoscopic sinus surgeries that included the use of balloon catheters across the 18-month period from December 2005 to May 2007. The study results showed that balloon catheters were used in 3276 peripheral (maxillary, frontal, and sphenoid) sinuses, for an average of 3.2 sinuses per patient. The revision rate was 1.3% of sinuses treated with a balloon catheter after an average follow-up of 40.2 weeks. The researchers found that sinus symptoms were improved in 95.2%, unchanged in 3.8%, and worse in 1.0% of patients. Postoperative sinus infections were significantly less frequent and less severe compared to infections before surgery. The results were consistent across all patient categories, including balloon-only patients and revision patients. No adverse events were attributable to balloon sinuplasty. The study was published in the April 2008 issue of Annals of Otology, Rhinology, & Laryngology.

"The results from this study reinforce the outstanding safety record of balloon sinuplasty technology, and underscore its effectiveness in alleviating chronic sinusitis symptoms,” said lead author Howard Levine, M.D., director of the Cleveland Nasal, Sinus, and Sleep Center. "Results were universally excellent across a large population of patients and dozens of different practices.”

Balloon sinuplasty, a technology developed by Acclarent (Menlo Park, CA, USA), is similar in concept to catheters used for cardiac balloon angioplasty. The specially designed devices are threaded into the sinus passageways and gently inflated, widening the passages to promote drainage and resolution of chronic sinusitis symptoms. The technology can be used as a stand-alone system or with standard surgical instrumentation. Recovery times vary, but patients typically return to normal activities within 24 hours of treatment.

Chronic sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses afflicting an estimated 37 million people annually in the United States alone. Symptoms include facial pain or pressure, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing through the nose, and fatigue. Although antibiotics and topical steroids can help many people, approximately 500,000 U.S. patients undergo surgery each year to alleviate the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.


Related Links:
Cleveland Nasal, Sinus, and Sleep Center
Acclarent