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Cutting-Edge, Minimally Invasive Procedure Offers Sinus Relief
It's estimated that 37 million people in the
United States suffer from chronic inflammation
or infection of the sinuses, also
known as sinusitis. Sinusitis can cause miserable,
cold-like symptoms, including postnasal
drip, headache, cough, and fatigue.
Thankfully, Riverview Medical Center is
on the cutting edge of sinus treatment. The
center offers a new procedure that provides
relief to patients with less pain and a faster
recovery. It's called sinuplasty.
"Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure
that is similar to the angioplasty technique
used to unblock clogged arteries leading
to the heart," explains Arvind Prabhat,
M.D., a board certified ear, nose, and throat
surgeon at Riverview and one of a handful
of surgeons in the state who offer sinuplasty.
How Sinuplasty Works
To open blocked sinus passages, the surgeon
uses fluoroscopic X-ray imaging to
thread a catheter through the nose to the
specific point of narrowing in the tunnels
that lead to the sinuses. A tiny balloon on
the end of the catheter is then inflated,
dilating the constricted point.
"Traditional surgical methods for
unblocking sinus passages involve cutting
or tearing tissue away," says Dr. Prabhat.
"Although this still might be the best
method in some cases, sinuplasty offers
tremendous benefits for the right patient."
Finding Relief
With sinuplasty, patients experience less
trauma, bleeding, and pain than with traditional
sinus surgery. The procedure takes just
a few minutes and patients are able to return to work within days. The typical outcome?
Relief. Just ask Stephen Halaburda.
Stephen, 49, had been suffering from
what he thought were recurring colds,
sinus problems, and headaches for years.
But not until he lost his sense of smell did
he seek help from Dr. Prabhat.
Four months ago, Stephen underwent
the sinuplasty procedure at Riverview
Medical Center. Since that time, he has
been living free of the symptoms he dealt
with for more than a decade.
"I have been on medications and even
had surgery 12 years ago, which never completely
helped," explains Stephen. "But not
until this procedure did I find relief."
The Right Candidate
Sinuplasty can help adults of all ages, as well
as some children, who suffer from chronic
sinusitis without relief from medication. But
like most procedures, sinuplasty isn't appropriate
for everyone, such as those with polyp growths, excessive scar tissue, or problems
in the ethmoid sinuses (behind the bridge of
the nose). However, in many of these cases,
sinuplasty can be used in conjunction with
more traditional surgical methods.
Sinuplasty is especially beneficial for
those with problems in the frontal sinuses,
found over the eyes and eyebrows. These
sinuses have long tunnels with sharp
angles that are difficult to address with
traditional surgery.
"For problems in the frontal sinuses,
sinuplasty may be more successful in
the short- and long-term than any other
technique we have right now," explains
Dr. Prabhat. "We are proud to offer this
advanced treatment to our patients."
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