Balloon Sinus Dilation in Hudson Valley

Sinus problems can be a source of significant irritation for so many people. In fact, severe sinus problems can hamper a person’s quality of life. More than 8 million people seek medical attention for chronic sinusitis each year- more than any other medical condition including asthma and heart failure.  Ten 10% fail to respond to medical management and are referred for surgical consultations.  Only 20% elect to have surgery because they don’t want to have downtime of up to 2 weeks, general anesthesia, or potential complications from traditional cutting sinus surgery.  The majority go back to their primary doctors for antibiotics that fail to give sustained relief or even worse, just give up and decide to live with their debilitating sinus symptoms.

In 2008, Dr. Rubinstein was the first ENT in the Hudson Valley to introduce his patients to a ground breaking treatment- a minimally invasive sinus procedure designed to effectively relieve the pressure and pain caused by chronic sinusitis. This procedure is called Balloon Sinuplasty. Refinements and progress in balloon sinus dilation technique has resulted in it being performed in office under local anesthesia for most patients avoiding the need for general anesthesia.  It has also gained wider applications beyond just being used for chronic sinusitis (symptoms persisting > 3 months) such as in the treatment of recurrent (4 or more infections per year where symptoms clear up between infections but require frequent antibiotics which can be harmful) sinus infections.

About Balloon Sinuplasty

Balloon Sinuplasty is the ideal treatment for those who suffer from recurrent & chronic sinusitis but are not responding to traditional medications. These medications include nasal steroids, antibiotics, or over-the-counter drugs. These patients suffer from extreme symptoms that cause constant pain and irritation. Many however have learned to live with these symptoms and don’t make the connection that their fatigue, reduced work productivity, sinus pressure may be caused by chronic sinusitis.

This procedure is safe and less invasive than a standard sinus surgery. There is no cutting of nasal tissue or bone. In fact, more than 380,000 people who suffer from chronic sinusitis have found relief through a Balloon Sinuplasty. This treatment is FDA approved to open blocked sinuses. Because of it being less invasive, it can be performed without general anesthesia, & patients can typically resume normal duties quickly compared to more invasive sinus remedies.

How It Works

Balloon Sinuplasty works much like an angioplasty that uses balloons to open up blocked arteries around the heart. Using an endoscope (video camera) a specially designed tiny catheter is inserted through the nose until it reaches the sinus cavity that is blocked and secondarily inflamed.  From the catheter a small balloon is slowly inflated. As the balloon inflates, it increase and reshapes the walls of the sinus passage. Studies have shown they remain open similar to traditional sinus surgery.  During this process, mucus is drained from the blocked sinus restoring normal sinus drainage. For this process to work in standard sinus surgeries, it requires a great deal of cutting of bone and mucous membrane causing bleeding and sometimes the formation of scar tissue. With Balloon Sinuplasty, there is only minimal bleeding and no cutting.

This procedure is performed in an office setting under local anesthesia with oral sedation. There are some surgeons who do choose to perform the procedure under general anesthesia in a hospital or surgery center.  Dr. Rubinstein is the only ENT sinus specialist in the Hudson Valley who has a fully certified in office surgical suite where patients who prefer to have general anesthesia can have this done safely in a more convenient and private setting.

The Results

According to published clinical data, Balloon Sinuplasty provides relief in nearly all patients. When performed by experienced sinus surgeons, Balloon Sinuplasty helped improve sinus symptoms in 95 percent of 1,036 patients that participated in a multi-center study. The average follow-up for these patients was nine months. Another study showed that 65 patients who underwent the procedure reported significant improvement in their sinuses for up to two years. Furthermore, 95 percent of patients who have undergone the procedure said they would have it done again because of how effective it was.

Risks

Balloon Sinuplasty is only administered under the care of a trained doctor. Dr. Rubinstein has performed countless sinus procedures and has helped his patients achieve superior results. There are some associated risks with Balloon Sinuplasty. These risk include:

• Tissue and mucosal trauma
• Infection that may persist
• Potential optic injury-rare

During your initial consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, he will discuss these risks with you to help you determine if Balloon Sinuplasty is right for you.

Cost Savings

Because of the nature of this procedure, most insurance companies and Medicare provide coverage for Balloon Sinuplasty. Additionally, some eligible patients have the opportunity for lower costs if Balloon Sinuplasty is performed in a setting where the cost of care is lower such as a physician’s office. Dr. Rubinstein’s staff will help guide his patients thru the insurance maze to make sure the procedure is covered and assist in paying for insurance deductibles such as offering his patients 0 % interest financing thru Care Credit and affordable payment plans.

Frequently Asked Questions