First Impressions - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Advanced Care forChronic SinusitisNew Sinuplasty treatment offers reliefPULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800Has cabin fever evolved into a cold?Do springtime sneezes give you aheadache? Watch out, these seasonalsymptoms may lead to sinusitis, oneof the most commonly diagnosedhealth issues in America, affecting37 million Americans annually.How do you develop an infectionor inflammation of the sinuses? Youare more likely to contract sinusitiswhen you have a cold, as many doin late winter to early spring. Whileyour body may be able to “fight off”the cold with help from over-thecounteror prescribed medications,the prolonged congestion in nasalpassages may allow bacteria tomultiply, causing sinusitis.Don’t try to suffer through sinusitis,say doctors—it may have a significantimpact on your quality of life.Treatment has traditionally involvedmedical therapies, with surgeryreserved for the chronic cases.Until recently, care may have includedallergy evaluation and therapy; anantibiotic regimen; and sophisticatedtopical nasal applications.However, if these treatments havebeen ineffective, consider a new1. 2. 3.therapy, Balloon Sinuplasty TM , aminimally invasive option nowavailable at Memorial Hospital.Sinuplasty developed as a result ofthe same technology used in cardiacangioplasties when a “balloon” isinserted into an artery, opening thepassageway and allowing for theinsertion of a stent, facilitating bloodflow. During sinuplasty, a small,flexible balloon catheter is placedthrough a nostril into the blockedsinus passageway. The balloon dilates,opening the natural opening (ostium),thus restoring normal sinus drainageand function.This technology is less painful thanmany other procedures and can becombined with other procedures,such as polyp removal orstraightening a deviated septum.In addition, because it is minimallyinvasive, Balloon Sinuplasty has fewerside effects. A recent study in theAnnals of Otology, Rhinology &Laryngology said that as many as95.2 percent of sinuplasty patientshad improvement with regard tosinus symptoms, and two-thirds ofpatients were completely free ofSymptoms of Sinusitis• Fever• Facial pain, particularly aroundthe nose, forehead, jaw or teeth• Stuffy or runny nose• Headache• Tiredness, weakness• Bad breathsinus infections in follow-up10 months later.“The benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty aremany: There is less postoperative painfor the patient; usually there is nopacking of the sinuses involved; and thepatient returns home the same day asthe procedure, and can return to workin just one to three days instead of theusual one to two weeks with traditionalsinus surgery,” explains Daniel Kletzing,M.D. He and his partner, Robert Brooks,M.D., are board-certifiedotolaryngologists who performnumerous sinuplasties annually.Have you had recurrent problemswith your sinuses? To find an ear,nose and throat specialist nearyou, contact Memorial’s HealthProfessionals at 800-999-8890. •Relieva Balloon Sinuplasty TM TechnologyStep 1: Using the Relieva Balloon Sinuplastysystem, theotolaryngologist gains access to the target sinus with a SinusGuide Catheter and a flexible Sinus Guidewire. Then a SinusBalloon Catheter is advanced over the Sinus Guidewire.Step 2: The Sinus Balloon Catheter is positioned across theblocked ostium and gently inflated.Step 3: The Relieva® system is removed, leaving an open sinusostium and restoring normal sinus drainage and function.018