Each year, one in seven adults in the U.S. is affected by sinus disease; and 31 million individuals will be diagnosed with sinusitis. People with sinusitis experience a range of debilitating symptoms, including constant nasal congestion, facial pains, headaches, fatigue, and loss of smell.

Until recently, treatment options for sinusitis have been limited to medication such as antibiotics and topical nasal steroids or conventional sinus surgery. Medical therapy helps 75 to 80 percent of chronic sinus sufferers. For patients who fail to respond to medical treatments, surgery may be the best option. However, conventional sinus surgery involves painful bone and tissue removal.

Balloon sinuplasty, a breakthrough in endoscopic sinus surgery, offers such patients a minimally invasive surgical option. "In most cases, balloon sinuplasty can be performed without removing any tissue or bone, which means less discomfort after the procedure," said Mohsen Habib, M.D., F.A.C.S., chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at New York Methodist Hospital, who performs the procedure. "Since the procedure is minimally invasive and highly precise, the risk of scarring or bleeding is minimized, so patients can look forward to a short, uncomplicated recovery."
The procedure uses a guidewire and catheter to guide a tiny flexible balloon through the sinus cavities to the site of the obstruction. The balloon is gently inflated, which widens the opening of the sinus and clears the blockage. The balloon is then deflated and removed, and normal functioning of the sinuses is restored. The sinuses may then be irrigated through the newly widened opening. Advanced imaging and operative techniques are used during the surgery to help position the surgical instruments, increasing the precision of the operation.

People with sinusitis are considered to be candidates for balloon sinuplasty if they've failed to respond to medical treatments such as nasal sprays, antibiotics, or anti-histamines. Since various factors determine if balloon sinuplasty is the right treatment for a patient with sinusitis, it's important to consult with an otolaryngologist who has experience in this procedure. For a referral to an otolaryngologist at New York Methodist Hospital, please call 718 499-CARE.

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New York Methodist Hospital (NYM), a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn's Park Slope, houses 651 inpatient beds (including bassinets) and provides services to over 36,000 inpatients each year. An additional 300,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually. The Hospital, founded in 1881, has undergone extensive renovation and modernization over the years. NYM offers Institutes in the following areas: Advanced and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Asthma and Lung Disease; Cancer Care; Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery; Digestive and Liver Disorders; Diabetes and Other Endocrine Disorders; Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Family Care; Neurosciences; Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery and Women's Health. New York Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Cornell Medical College and is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

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