Health - Now,a non-surgical cure for sinusitis

NEW DELHI: For those suffering from acute or chronic sinusitis, there is good news. Doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) have begun using a new n
on-surgical technique to cure the problem. According to them, balloon sinuplasty, a technique in which a balloon is inflated in the affected nasal area thereby clearing the blockage, is likely to help many patients.

“The usual treatment procedure of treating acute or chronic sinusitis is to open the nasal tract in order to reach the blockage and then remove the mucus. It is a painful procedure, and in the course of reaching the spot, some bones may break, leading to a longer recovery time,” said Dr Shalabh Sharma, senior consultant, ENT, SGRH.

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the sinuses (cavities around the nasal passage). The condition becomes worse when mucus starts collecting in the cavity, blocking the airway.

“With mucus collecting in the cavity it becomes difficult for the patient to breathe. And as there is no outlet for the mucus, it begins to rot and starts moving downwards towards the throat. In this condition one is prone to catching viral or bacterial infections. In fact, exposure to dust particles can make things worse for the patient,” said Dr Sharma.

With balloon sinuplasty, these blockages can be cleared without surgery and the patient can go home the same day.

Kuljeet Khurana, who has been suffering from sinusitis for the past 12 years, is one relieved patient. She underwent balloon sinuplasty in March this year at SGRH. “For the last few years, I could not breathe through my nose. I couldn’t smell anything. I had constant headache and mild exposure to dust would result in acute pain and headache. But after the procedure I’m very comfortable,” she said.

In balloon sinuplasty, a wire catheter is introduced through the nostril and guided to the blockage. The catheter has a balloon in the front. “Once we reach the blockage site, we inflate the balloon for a short duration. And once the blockage is cleared, we deflate it and pull out the catheter. One five balloon to six blockage sites,” said Dr Howard Levine, director, Nasal and Sinus Centre, Cleveland, US and president of American Society of Rhinology.

The technique cost Rs 40,000, and so far there has displayed no side effects.