Thanks for the question SDinPenn. Balloon Sinusplasty is a term used to describe opening up the sinus channels by inflating strong balloons instead of more traditional ways of cutting away the bones. It has several advantages, including safety, less bleeding, and less pain – leading to quicker recovery. The problems with the balloon include difficulty in positioning the guidewire, especially when the sinus is “completely blocked”. Also many traditionalists, myself included, think that the balloon is like “sinus surgery lite”, offering a less permanent cure. The jury is still out on just how long the balloon method lasts for most patients when compared to traditional endoscopic sinus surgery.
One huge advantage of the balloon is that it can potentially be done in the office under local anesthesia only, without the need for general anesthesia and the costs of an operating room. Again this comes with the problem that most insurance companies have not covered the costs of the procedure (it uses a $1000-2000 disposable balloon) unless it is done in the operating room. That may change in January 2011 as Medicare will soon announce that it will be covering the procedure if done in the office. Usually when Medicare decides to cover something, insurance companies slowly take note and follow in the coming years.
In short, balloon sinusplasty is not best for everyone, but its (likely) improved safety profile and reduced downtime make it appealing to patients with limited sinus disease who are reluctant about a larger surgery.
