Breathe easy: New procedure for chronic sinus sufferers now offered in Southeast Missouri

The traditional option to open blocked sinuses is endoscopic sinus surgery where doctors use a sharp instrument to remove tissue and bone from the interior of the sinus cavity.

A relatively new procedure for chronic sinusitis has gained popularity and has now come to Cape Girardeau. Balloon Sinuplasty, introduced by Acclarent Inc. in 2006, is a less invasive option for those plagued by nasal problems.

The new option is an outpatient procedure that requires no cutting or bandaging.

Balloon Sinuplasty uses an endoscope to guide a wire into the sinuses and then inflates a balloon to open blocked sinus passages. The balloon is inflated for less than a minute and gently pushes tissue and bone out of the way. It is then slowly deflated, leaving open passages for air.

The procedure uses a general anesthetic and the patient usually goes home the same day.

"It's an outpatient procedure. You can go back to work the next day," said Dr. Chris Jung, a doctor with Southeast Missouri ENT. Jung and his associate, Dr. Troy Major III, are the only two doctors in Southeast Missouri certified to perform the procedure.

The two went through a training and company certification last spring and began offering the procedure in March 2007.

"With this technique ... it has less tissue injury, so that translates to less discomfort," Major said.

Balloon Sinuplasty does not "tear up the tissue" like normal sinus surgery, which keeps the cavities from scarring over and closing up, Major said.

"It kind of slowly stretches it open," he said.

The catheter used is similar to that used in a heart or vessel procedure. The balloon can inflate up to seven millimeters.

"It's made so it doesn't just get bigger, it gets harder," Major said.

After the balloon opens up a passage, the practitioner slowly deflates and pulls it out.

"They don't seem to have near the discomfort as in traditional surgery," he said. "Most of the time they're not using pain meds after a day or so."

Pushing bones out of the way may sound painful, but Major said the bones found in nasal passages are soft and easily moved.

"We're not talking moving bone like in your arm. We're talking something like an eggshell," he said.

Kristin Nelson, who had the surgery in March, said the hardest part was getting over the local anesthetic she was given. Her neck was the only sore part after the surgery.

"As soon as I woke up, I could breathe better," Nelson said. There was some drainage, she said, but very little bleeding.

Nelson moved to Cape Girardeau five years ago from St. Louis, and said she averages four sinus infections a year.

"This year was just the end of the road," Nelson said. She opted for the less invasive Balloon Sinuplasty and was one of the first patients to come through the office.

"I've felt so much better. I can do a better job working and with my life," she said.

Chronic sinus sufferers often experience severe headaches, chronic runny nose, congestion, loss of work and lower quality of life.

"Sinus disease significantly affects the quality of life for a number of people," Jung said. "People want relief from the things that aren't killing them, but making them uncomfortable."

Smell and taste are usually impaired, which obviously has significant effects on enjoying food, Jung said.

Jung and Major investigated Acclarent and the procedure and said the extensive studies were convincing enough for them to become certified.

The company has followed patients and found no instance of scarring or returned blockage. Major said at first only a few insurance companies covered Balloon Sinuplasty, but more have added it as the procedure has gained clout.

Some severe cases may still require traditional surgery, but Major said Balloon Sinuplasty does not prevent that from happening if still needed after the procedure.

charris@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246