Balloon sinuplasty is being offered as an alternative to endoscopic sinus surgery for individuals with chronic sinusitis. The procedure is performed under anesthesia. A guide wire equipped with a balloon is inserted into the nostrils and up to the blockage. Once the balloon is placed, it is inflated approximately a quarter of an inch. The balloon is then deflated and removed. The procedure provides a way to dilate the sinus cavities, which may help restore sinus drainage.

• Approximately 32 million individuals living in the United States are affected annually with chronic sinusitis.
• Balloon sinuplasty is being proposed to treat approximately 5 to 10 percent of those who have exhausted less aggressive treatment options.

Will I live longer if I have a balloon sinuplasty?

Scientific evidence is not available to show if a balloon sinuplasty may cause you to live longer.

Will having a balloon sinuplasty improve my quality of life?

Long-term scientific evidence is not available to show whether a balloon sinuplasty improves your quality of life.

More information, including data from a large number of individuals who have had the procedure and have had long-term follow-up, is needed to determine the safety of a balloon sinuplasty.

At this time there are no comparative studies of balloon sinuplasty to current surgical (e.g., cleaning and draining the sinuses, functional endoscopic sinus surgery) or medical treatments (e.g., steroid nasal sprays, antibiotics if an infection present) for chronic sinusitis. Therefore, the effectiveness of a balloon sinuplasty is not known.

The cost of a balloon sinuplasty may range from $5,000 to- $10,000 or more.

The cost may or may not be covered by your health benefits plan.

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