Balloon fix could mean end to sinus misery

[Celebration]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12256082/

In severe cases, doctors snake special tools up the nose to enlarge those sinus openings by cutting out inflamed tissue and bone. It’s highly effective — only about 20 percent of patients need repeat surgery — but is painful and can cause a week of swelling plus scar tissue that may reblock the sinus.

The new balloon device is snaked to the same spot, but there’s no cutting. Instead, inflating the balloon aims to stretch that sinus opening back to its original size or a little bigger, letting air into the sinus to help antibiotics finally flush out infection and end the sinusitis cycle, explains Friedman.

Created by a physician-turned-medical device inventor frustrated by his own sinusitis, it’s similar to the way doctors use balloons to push back clogs in heart arteries. Thus, the Food and Drug Administration cleared sale of Acclarent Inc.’s device last summer based mainly on a study of 10 people that found no safety concerns.

How well does it work? There’s no research to tell, says Dr. David W. Kennedy of the University of Pennsylvania, who led an examination of sinuplasty for the American Academy of Otolaryngology — and complains that FDA should have required more evidence to back a procedure so different from standard sinus treatment.

[Vincardog]

1. Complains that FDA should have required more evidence

to back a procedure so different from standard sinus treatment.
Let's see the old way is painful and can cause a week of swelling plus scar tissue that may reblock the sinus. And the new way has a small study that found no safety concerns.
Did you ever wonder if there are not a few closet sadists in the medical profession?

[physioex]

3. I suffer from terrible sinus problems.....

And I realize the concerns associated with this procedure, but it's not that simple. Going through the misery is awful, and sometimes I think it might be worth a chance to be finally relieved....

[Vincardog]

5. Are you saying you would rather get cut or try the balloon?

[physioex]

6. Hmmm....

I am trying to decide. There aren't enough qualified doctors for the baloon procedure yet....

[Mel]

7. really 'closet sadists'

and I would damn sure try the balloon method over the cutting if I had sinus blockage. Thank you very much! It would be crazy not to try this first seeing as getting the painful surgery leaves scar tissue that may cause you the same problem. I mean really how many times must one go through this sort of surgery?

[Caoimhe]

2. My mom just sent me a link to this!

I've had sinus problems for years, tried everything under the sun. I wonder if anyone around here does this???? At least it doesn't sound like it does damage!

[physioex]

4. Terrible problems here....

I've been looking for physicans as well but it seems many aren't qualified to do this at this time.....

[Celebration]

9. daughter's experience

My daughter was on antibiotics for sinusitis several times a year and became intolerant of them after a reaction. I know this may not alwways happen but acupuncture made a huge difference for her. They also gave her an herb to put in her nose (liquid) that she swallowed after it got to the back of her throat. This, believe me, was an extreme version of getting the mucous flowing. One problem with sinusitis is that once you get it, the cilia become flattened and can't handle the next bout. So getting the cilia moving again is really important. At one time she used a Rino Flow to help the cilia move. Really after about three months use of Rino Flow, the nasal herb, and occasional acupuncture she hasn't had a single instance of returned sinusitis, and it has been several years. I am sure that we (she) could have gone a different route and gotten an operation but fortunately this took care of it for her, and it was a permanent fix, and not something she has to do on an ongoing basis.

I am just telling her experience in case it could possibly help someone else here.

[TlalocW]

8. You get better results

If you twist the balloon into a little poodle before inserting it.

TlalocW

[Caoimhe]

10. LOL! n/t

[Orrex]

11. My dentist tried that on me and nearly disloged my canines.

nyuk nyuk nyuk