For sufferers of chronic sinusitis, constant symptoms sometimes including facial pain and headaches can be severe.  In a story for ABC News, Jenette Restivo quotes ABCNEWS Medical Editor, Dr. Timothy Johnson as saying, “Chronic sinusitis can turn into a devastating problem. In fact, a recent study suggests that chronic sinusitis can cause more pain and disability than congestive heart failure, lung disease and back pain combined.”

            According to the Mayo Clinic website-www.mayoclinic.com-symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

·         Drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat

·         Nasal obstruction or congestion, causing difficulty breathing through your nose

·         Pain, tenderness and swelling around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead

·         Aching in your upper jaw and teeth

·         Reduced sense of smell and taste

·         Cough, which may be worse at night

Other signs and symptoms can include:

·         Ear pain

·         Sore throat

·         Bad breath (halitosis)

·         Fatigue or irritability

·         Nausea

If this sounds like what you’re experiencing and you’ve exhausted your non-surgical options, there may be good news in store for you.  Caldwell Memorial Hospital and Dr. Paul Warrick, Otolaryngologist at Piedmont Vista Ear Nose Throat Allergy Sleep Associates have teamed-up to bring state-of-the-art Image-guided Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and state-of-the-art Balloon Sinuplasty of all sinuses to Caldwell County as treatment options for sufferers of chronic sinusitis.  Both surgeries are performed at The George M. Hancock Surgery Center, a division of Caldwell Memorial Hospital.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology’ website-www.entnet.org-says that image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery is sometimes referred to as “stealth surgery” because it uses some of the sophisticated stealth principles of image-guidance used by the U.S. military.  In image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery, the surgeon inserts a small tube or endoscope into the nose.  He or she is then aided by an almost three-dimensional image of the patient’s sinuses created by CT-scans and infrared signals that help the surgeon to more precisely navigate the patient’s complex sinus passages.  Precision in sinus surgery is important as the sinuses are very close to the brain, the eyes, and major arteries in the head.  Image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery may also be of greater benefit to patients who have had previous sinus surgeries because it can help the surgeon to better see and navigate areas where scar-tissue may have built-up from the patient’s previous procedures.

            Balloon Sinuplasty is a procedure in which a surgeon also uses an endoscope, this time to insert a small balloon catheter into a sinus cavity.  The surgeon then inflates the balloon, expanding the sinus cavity.  It is the goal of balloon sinuplasty to gently reshape the sinus cavity while leaving the sinus membranes unaltered.  The expanded sinus cavity can allow for better sinus drainage and better breathing along with relief of sinus pressure.  Recovery from balloon sinuplasty can be shorter than previous sinus surgical techniques because there are no incisions in the face or mouth.

Caldwell Memorial Hospital provides Topics in Health for information only. This information is not meant to provide medical advice on any personal health issues.  Personal medical advice should be obtained only from a physician.  If you need a personal physician, please call our Physician Referral Line at 757-5571.