Advanced Sinus Surgery

Both our surgeons have experience in using recent advances such as computer-guided sinus surgery and powered sinus microdebriders. Both physicians are fully trained in current state-of-the-art techniques.

Our office uses sophisticated methods of evaluation to provide surgical and non-surgical options for treating all sinus diseases and disorders. Recently, sleep apnea/hypopnea and obstructive snoring have become increasingly common and more widely recognized in the past decade. Comprehensive Ear, Nose, and Throat, P.C. is one of the leading physician practices in West Michigan in the surgical treatment of sleep apnea and snoring disturbance issues.

Sinus Problems

The four sinus cavities, frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid are lined with soft tissue called mucous membrane and covered with cilia. The lining and cilia protect the body from dust, pollen, germs, and other foreign bodies in the air, and humidifies the air entering in through the nose. However, such high exposure to environmental irritants can overwhelm the body's natural defenses and makes many people susceptible to sinus infection or bacteria-nearly 50 million Americans are affected by sinus disorders annually.

Symptoms of sinus disorders vary widely. Infection from colds or sinusitis can result in facial pain and pressure, discolored mucous discharge, or nasal obstruction. Most people can be treated with antibiotics, i.e. decongestants, antihistamines, and saline sprays although surgery is an option if pharmaceuticals prove to be ineffective. Other factors such as a deviated septum may necessitate surgical treatment.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal Polyps are thought to be due to ongoing irritation and inflammation of the nasal passages. They may fluctuate in size and further contribute to nasal obstruction. Nasal decongestants and nasal steroids are the usual first line treatment for this problem. In the long-term, some patients may benefit from removal of the polyps to further open the nasal passages.

Epistaxis

Nose bleed (epistaxis) refers to any type of bleeding from the nasal passages. More people are prone to this problem during the winter months where the temperatures are down and the humidity is low. Preventive measures include having a humidifier in the bedroom for the duration of the night, as well as application of nasal lubricants. Patients with active nosebleed are encouraged to contact the office immediately for an evaluation and control of the bleeding.

Allergy Diagnosis and Treatment

Screening for allergies is important in determining the cause of your troubling symptoms, and also in identifying the specific allergens that trigger your reactions. Identifying the specific cause of your symptoms lets you avoid these triggers as much as possible to reduce the frequency of symptoms.

There are several different tests available to identify allergens. Blood tests are among the most common, and screen the blood for any type of allergy indicators. This test scans the blood for any antibodies that are made in response to allergens. The most common blood test is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which measures the amount of immunoglobin E in the blood. While blood tests can screen the body for a wide range of allergies that may not even produce symptoms, they are not as sensitive as other types of tests.

Skin tests use specific allergens to see if they trigger reactions on the skin. This can be done by placing a tiny drop of a solution on a needle and scratching the skin, or taping the solution to the skin for 24 to 72 hours. This test will identify specific reactions, but may require extensive testing in order to determine your specific triggers.

You may need to stop taking antihistamines or other medications before undergoing these tests, so speak to your doctor in order to achieve the most effective results.

Balloon Sinuplasty™

Over 37 million people are affected by sinusitis each year, a common condition causing pain, pressure and congestion in the forehead, nose, cheek and eye area. Sinus problems may develop as the result of a cold and last for just a few days, or may be a chronic condition that exists for months with no relief from its troubling symptoms.

Sinusitis is usually managed through medication, or surgery for more severe cases. Conventional sinus surgery uses an endoscope to remove bone and tissue from nasal passages in order to enlarge the area and clear up blockages. Although effective, this procedure often leaves patients with post-operative pain, scarring and bleeding.

Balloon sinuplasty is an advanced surgical procedure used to treat sinusitis and other related problems through minimally invasive techniques. Unlike conventional sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty inserts a thin endoscope into the nose to clear blocked passageways without disrupting surrounding bone and tissue. This is done by inserting a small balloon that gently inflates to widen the walls of the passageway and allow built-up sinus fluid to properly drain.

The balloon sinuplasty procedure offers patients many benefits over conventional sinus surgery. Some of these benefits include:

Minimally invasive
Reduced bleeding
Does not limit treatment options
Safe and effective
Improved recovery time

Balloon sinuplasty is an FDA-approved procedure with no serious risks or complications. This procedure has been performed thousands of times across the world with no serious problems reported.

If you are suffering from long-term sinus symptoms, talk to your doctor to find out if balloon sinuplasty is right for you. Long-term relief is now available from a safe, minimally invasive procedure.

To learn more about Balloon Sinuplasty please visit, http://www.balloonsinuplasty.com

If you would like to watch a 3-D module on Sinus Surgery and Anatomy, please click here.

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If you are interested in learning more about any of our Sinus Procedures, call 616-942-0380 or click here to contact us.