Ft Worth Times

• Balloon sinuplasty was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005.
• The procedure can help treat chronic sinusitis with long-lasting effects.
• Balloon dilation is minimally invasive, and there's no cutting or removal of bones or tissue.

Balloon sinuplasty, which can also be known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure that clears blocked sinuses. It's a relatively new procedure, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It is sometimes referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure.

According to Healthline, balloon sinuplasty is recommended for people with chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have proven ineffective. There's no cutting, no removal of bones or tissue, and and reported complications are minimal.

Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says a balloon sinuplasty is a game changer because it's minimally invasive with maximum benefits.

"I'm very excited about balloon sinuplasty, balloon dilation," Trimble told Ft. Worth Times. "I always tell people that I went to a conference -- I think this was back in 2005 in San Francisco -- and at the very end, they were talking about balloon dilation. I remember thinking, 'Wow, if you could eventually do this in the office, this would be a game changer because you could take what we've been doing in the operating room for years, and you can move it to a less-invasive environment. And that would be great.' Sure enough, in 2011, we were doing this procedure in the office. The goal is to get maximum benefit with minimal downside, in terms of invasiveness."

A balloon sinuplasty is an in-office procedure that's simple and only takes about an hour, according to Entellus Medical. The preparation takes about thirty minutes and involves anesthetics being applied to the nose for more comfort. A thin instrument with a balloon is then guided through your sinus, the balloon is gently inflated for five seconds with saline, and when your sinuses open, the balloon is removed.

Physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore threat, bad breath or fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.

For more information about chronic sinusitis and treatments, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.