Chronic sinusitis
If your sinusitis (or sinus infection) symptoms have lasted longer than 12 weeks, you may have chronic sinusitis. Some common symptoms include
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feeling congested or having facial pain?
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finding it hard to breathe through your nose?
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having yellow or green nasal mucus, loss of smell or taste, or headaches?
If your symptoms go away and then come back 4 or more times per year, you may have recurrent acute sinusitis.
Chronic or acute recurrent sinusitis can be frustrating but, fortunately, there are treatment options.
Initial treatment for chronic sinusitis
First-line treatment of chronic sinusitis is with medications, including:
- antibiotics, to combat infections
- topical nasal steroid sprays, which reduce swelling of the nose lining (or mucosa)
- mucus thinning drugs
- oral steroids
- saline nasal sprays or neti pots, which can help relieve sinus discomfort
Dr. Ganc will work with you to find the most appropriate option(s).
If symptoms continue
If medical treatment does not relieve your symptoms, then options for treatment include:
- Balloon Sinuplasty
- Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS)
Today, there is an innovative procedure used by Dr. Ganc to treat patients with recurrent acute or chronic sinusitis. Balloon Sinuplasty uses a small balloon catheter to open inflamed sinuses. The balloon catheter is placed into the nose to reach the narrowed natural openings of the sinuses, and the balloon is inflated to restructure the previously blocked sinus opening
Unlike conventional sinus surgery, Balloon Sinuplasty preserves the normal anatomy of the sinuses and mucosal tissue and does not require the removal of bone and tissue. Clinical studies have shown that the procedure is safe and effective. The Balloon Sinuplasty procedure is generally conducted in Dr. Ganc’s office, under local anesthesia.
Endoscopic sinus surgery
Dr. Ganc will sometimes conclude that Balloon Sinuplasty is not appropriate for your situation. In such cases, he can perform Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS). This is a common surgical procedure where blocked sinuses are treated by widening the sinus openings and removing diseased tissue.
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