sinus surgery
Sinus surgery may be needed when medication treatment has failed to improve or cure chronic sinusitis. Sinus surgery can be performed at St. Francis downtown, St. Francis eastside, or Upstate Surgery Center.
When medical therapy such as antibiotics and topical nasal steroids no longer control sinusitis symptoms, sinus surgery is an option. During sinus surgery, blocked sinus passageways are re-opened, restoring normal sinus drainage and function.
Your sinuses are surrounded by bone and cartilage and lined with a mucous membrane. When the membranes become inflamed and painful, sinusitis occurs. Sinusitis is one of the most common chronic health problems in the U.S., afflicting 37 million Americans each year. Sinusitis can significantly impact an individuals physical, functional, and emotional quality of life. Chronic sinusitis is often caused by inflammation and blockage due to a deviated septum, malformed bone or cartilage structures, or blockage by nasal cysts or polyps
endoscopic sinus surgery with balloon sinuplasty technology
St. Francis offers Balloon Sinuplasty technology in which a small, flexible balloon catheter is placed through the nostril into the blocked sinus passageway. The balloon is inflated, gently restructuring and opening the sinus passageway to restore normal function.
Balloon Sinuplasty enables physicians to treat sinusitis entirely through the nostrils, and in many cases without tissue or bone removal. This may result in reduced bleeding and post-procedure discomfort for patients. Endoscopic sinus surgery with balloon sinuplasty technology is an outpatient procedure, and many patients can return to work within 1-2 days.
endoscopic sinus surgery
In endoscopic sinus surgery, small surgical instruments and a small camera are inserted into the nostrils, providing the doctor with an inside view of the sinuses. During the procedure, the doctor removes small amounts of bone or other material blocking the sinus openings. In some cases a laser is used to burn away tissue blocking the sinus opening. A small rotating burr that scrapes away tissue may also be used.
Endoscopic sinus surgery does not cause visible scarring, and it is often performed on an outpatient basis, resulting in a shorter recovery than traditional sinus surgery.
traditional sinus surgery
In traditional sinus surgery, an opening is made into the sinus, either through the inside of the mouth or through the skin of the face. Working through the incision, the doctor uses various surgical instruments to remove the tissue that is blocking the sinus and preventing drainage.
If the incision is made on the face, there will be a visible scar. Often, after traditional sinus surgery, the nostrils must be packed with gauze for several days.
stealth system technology
St. Francis also offers computer-guided imagery called Stealth System Technology. With the Stealth System, surgeons get a three-dimensional view inside a patient's sinus cavity and can pinpoint the exact location of surgical instruments.
This technology is most commonly used with patients who have had previous sinus surgeries. Every time sinus surgery is performed, the bony structures inside the nose change. The Stealth System gives surgeons an updated picture of the patients sinus cavity, showing changes made from past surgeries.
