SPIRE YALE
New ways to treat
chronic sinusitis We spoke to Mr Arvind Arya, a consultant ear, nose and throat specialist at the Spire Yale Hospital, about new treatments for chronic sinusitis Q What are the signs and symptoms of sinusitis? A Sinusitis a very common problem that is an inflammation of the sinuses, and can be caused by a variety of problems, including infection or allergies. Sinusitis often goes away on its own, but some people suffer from chronic sinusitis, which lasts for more than three months. Patients often feel like they have a bad head cold and experience facial pain and pressure. A lot of people with this condition say they can’t smell or taste things properly as well, and the condition often gets worse every time the patient gets a cold. Q How can chronic sinusitis be treated? A We first try medical therapy, such as a three month course of antibiotics, or steroids and steroid sprays, but around one in five patients won’t respond to these treatments. It is then that we consider surgery. Of course, we try not to operate unless we have to, but by the time a patient gets to a specialist, they have usually already tried medical therapy and it hasn’t worked. Q What does surgery to treat chronic sinusitis involve? A Conventional
endoscopic sinus surgery is done under general anaesthetic and involves opening up the sinus to drain them. Unfortunately, this technique causes scarring as you open up the sinus, which can cause the condition to reoccur. Conventional surgery sometimes only works for a year, and we may have to repeat the procedure. There is also a risk of damaging the eye or brain during surgery. The risk is very small, but it is still something we have to warn patients about.
Q What other advantages are there to employing balloon sinuplasty over conventional surgery? A Balloon sinuplasty is far quicker to carry out, and it is nearly always a day procedure, meaning that the patient can go home the same day. The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic, but in America, they are beginning to carry it out using just local anaesthetic. This would lower the risks of surgery for the patient. Combined with the higher long-term success rates, a balloon sinuplasty means that a patient can get better more quickly and for a longer time.
Q Are there any other surgical options? A Balloon sinuplasty is a really good new way of treating sinusitis. It’s a great bit of kit that negates a lot of the risks of conventional surgery. We have used this technique at Spire Yale for about six months. It’s a new way of opening the sinuses without causing any scarring, and so reducing the chances that we’ll have to do the operation again.
Q How is a balloon sinuplasty carried out? A A small guide catheter is inserted into the nasal cavity and is used to carefully guide the balloon into the correct position. Once in the right place, the balloon is inflated just enough to open up the passageway, similar to how surgeons open up blocked arteries in a balloon angioplasty. The inflated balloon creates micro-fractures in the wall of the sinus, which widens the opening without causing any scarring. Once the passageway is open, the sinus is flushed to remove any debris, such as mucus or puss. y
‘Balloon sinuplasty is a great bit of kit that negates a lot of the risks of conventional surgery’
Mr Arvind Arya MBChB, FRCS (ORL-HNS), MSc
Qualified in 1999 and specialises in ear, nose and throat problems, including sleep disorders, disordered breathing and sinus disease. He is a consultant otolaryngologist and an Everton fan! His private secretary can be contacted on 01978 725117 or for cost enquiries, contact Spire Yale on 01978 262462.
01978 262462
www.spireyale.com
March/April 2013 yattaryattar magazine 115