Balloon Sinuplasty: Our Experience

Chronic rhino sinusitis (CRS) is a common disease. Maxillary sinusitis not cured by the medicines was addressed by the open surgical procedure namely Caldwell Luc operation. Thereafter introduction of nasal endoscopes in 1970’s led to the minimally invasive surgery FESS which preserved the physiology of the nose and sinuses. In the year 2002 balloon sinuplasty was introduced in the western world and subsequently in India. Due to various logistics it was not performed and reintroduced in the year 2015 in India. It can be termed as micro minimally invasive surgery wherein anatomy as well as physiology of the nose and sinuses were preserved in cases of medically non responsive mild to moderate sinusitis. 20 cases were selected for exclusive balloon sinuplasty of maxillary sinus. Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively new procedure which can be termed as micro minimally invasive surgery addressing the CRS without the traditional forms for surgery like incision, cutting or microdebriding. The principle is causing microfractures by inflating the sinus opening and thus facilitating the drainage of the sinus contents. No immediate or late post operative complications were noted. Sinus patency 6 months later was present in 90% of the cases. Balloon sinuplasty is an excellent procedure for medically nonresponsive CRS without polyposis. The success rate is spectacular matching the FESS with almost no immediate post operative and late complication. The recurrence rate of sinusitis is low. We conclude that balloon sinuplasty is a micro invasive procedure which saves operating time, time of hospital stay of the patient and delivers excellent result with almost no complications. We hope it could be incorporated as a routine surgery for mild to moderate sinusitis not responding to medicines.