Diagnosis is Key! Finding the right ENT specialist is not always an easy task. Dr. Weiss is a specialist with extensive experience in treating chronic sinusitis. When diagnosing sinus disease Dr. Weiss needs to determine whether you have acute or chronic sinusitis, along with the underlying cause, as this determines the correct treatment.
Typically patients use over the counter medications such as decongestants, nasal steroids and antihistamines to open the sinuses. Medications to thin the mucus such as saline and mucinex can also be used. If the nasal and sinus symptoms linger for more than one week, or are worsening after a few days, you may need to be treated with antibiotics. If your symptoms continue even after medical treatment, this is a sign of developing chronic sinusitis. If you get better only to have problems return again this is called recurrent acute sinusitis.
Chronic and recurrent acute sinusitis may require a nasal endoscopic exam and a CT scan of the sinuses because there are several causes for chronic and recurrent acute sinusitis, including abnormal anatomy or nasal polyps. Both nasal endoscopy and sinus CT can be performed in Dr. Weiss’s office.
Procedures for treating chronic sinusitis
There are many breakthrough and cutting edge treatments for treating chronic sinusitis such as an in office procedure called Balloon Sinuplasty™. This technology is an FDA-approved, endoscopic, catheter-based system for the relief from chronic sinusitis. Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology uses a small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter to open up blocked sinus passageways, restoring normal sinus drainage and function. This technique is analogous to angioplasty for the sinuses.
Sinus Surgery in general is performed when patients fail medical therapy. The most common type of surgery for the sinuses is called (FESS) Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery. This is performed in an outpatient surgical center under general anesthesia. This type of surgery is well tolerated and usually requires the removal of small amounts of bone and soft tissue that are blocking the sinus drainage pathways. The purpose of the surgery is to widen the natural drainage pathways between the sinuses and the nose, allowing mucus to get out of the sinuses and air to get in. Long term this allows allergy medications such as nasal saline and nasal steroids to access the sinuses for improved control of allergy symptoms.
Balloon Sinuplasty™ is performed in patients who have chronic sinusitis that require surgical intervention but do not require tissue removal. This is the least invasive method available for widening the sinus cavities. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery is performed in patients with chronic sinusitis that require tissue removal, such as polyps or bone.