Balloon sinuplasty (BSP) is a non-surgical medical procedure used to treat chronic sinusitis, a swelling of the lining of the sinuses that often results from infections or allergies. Chronic sinusitis can cause the opening to the sinus to become obstructed and prevent mucus from leaving the sinus resulting in pain and risk of infection. Although there are medications that can be used to treat sinusitis, some people do not respond to medications and will need to find other options to treat their sinusitis. For those who do not respond to medications, surgery and balloon sinuplasty are two other options. Surgery has several risks, and patients will generally need a significant amount of recovery time. Many people choose to opt for balloon sinuplasty over traditional surgery, because it is a relatively simple procedure that has immediate results and a short recovery time.
Balloon sinuplasty is modeled after balloon angioplasty, a procedure used to widen and unclog blocked arteries; balloon sinuplasty works by enlarging the sinus opening and draining out trapped mucus. Although balloon sinuplasty is generally performed using general anesthesia, it can also be done at a doctor’s office using local anesthesia.
The procedure for balloon sinuplasty involves placing a thin wire through the patient’s nostrils and into his or her sinus. The balloon catheter, which is a small inflatable catheter, is then placed onto the wire and slid into the sinus. When the balloon catheter is inflated, it widens the sinus opening. After the opening has been widened, a saline solution is sprayed into the sinus to loosen and release mucus that was trapped inside of the sinus. The entire procedure for balloon sinuplasty can be performed within a few hours. The typical recovery time for patients who receive balloon sinuplasty is generally a few days, and many people are able to resume their regular routine after only a day of recovery.