The Landings & Bay Colony

26

Is it Allergies? Sinusitis? ...Both?

D

o you find yourself standing in the pharmacy aisle staring at the shelf of sinus and
allergy medication on a search for something to provide you relief? Have you tried

every antihistamine, nasal spray and antibiotic on the market?  This is not uncommon
especially in South Florida.  Read below as Dr Richard Callari, board-certified
Otolaryngologist (ENT) of Broward Sinus & Allergy Center, discusses new cutting-edge
solutions that are changing patients’ lives.  

What causes chronic sinusitis?

Sinuses are air spaces in the skull that open into the nasal cavity. When you have acute
or chronic sinusitis, the mucous membranes of your nose, sinuses and throat become
inflamed. For some patients, the opening from the nose to the sinus cavities aren’t large
enough for the air to get in and the mucus to get out, which causes sinus problems. The
impact of chronic sinusitis on a person’s quality of life may include facial pressure or
pain, headaches, congestion, bad breath, irritability, fatigue or nausea.

What is a Balloon Sinuplasty?

It’s a minimally invasive procedure to alleviate chronic sinusitis that can be done in our
office. Balloon Sinuplasty requires no cutting and no removal of bone and tissue. Patients
are awake the entire time and given local anesthesia. 

Who might benefit from Balloon Sinuplasty?

Anyone who has been suffering with recurrent sinus infections and problems with sinuses
may benefit. It’s for someone who has already been treated medically, whether it’s with
a decongestant, saline nasal sprays, antibiotics, nasal steroid sprays or overthecounter
pain relievers, to which none have provided lasting relief. Balloon Sinuplasty is
considered the next level of treatment after medication failure, and it is not as invasive as
other surgical procedures in which the patient is put under general anesthesia.

What can a patient expect during the procedure?

From arrival to departure, the patient can expect to spend about 1.5 to 2 hours. The
actual procedure takes only 15 to 20 minutes. Once the nose is properly numb by a
safe, topical anesthesia, a balloon catheter is inserted into the inflamed sinus to dilate
the sinus opening. Once the small balloon has been inflated, it is removed, leaving the
sinuses open. As the sinus balloon inflates, it micro-fractures the little bones in the nasal
cavity and widens the walls of the sinus passageway while maintaining the integrity of
the sinus lining.

Is the procedure painful?

With proper anesthesia, patients will feel pressure and hear some noises as the sinuses open
up. Most patients report that they have very little discomfort. It all depends on the patient’s
pain threshold, but the outcome is very worth it to patients who have been suffering.

What should a patient expect during recovery time?

Recovery time for Balloon Sinusplasty is generally a couple of days to a week, versus many
weeks for an operative surgical procedure (or, a general anesthesia surgical patient).
Patients can even drive themselves home after this procedure, as long as they do not take

by

Richard Callari, MD

Specialist, Otolaryngology

Richard Callari, M.D., is a surgeon
specializing in Otolaryngology,
head and neck surgery. He is a past
chief of staff at Broward Health
Medical Center and Chris Evert
Children's Hospital. Dr. Callari
received his undergraduate degree
from Boston University and his
medical degree from Medical
College of Virginia, Virginia
Commonwealth University. He
completed his surgical internship at
Orlando Regional Medical Center
in Florida and his residency in
Otolaryngology at the Medical
College of Virginia. Dr. Callari is
also a Diplomate with the American
Board of Otolaryngology, Head and
Neck Surgery. 

Tel: 954.760.7836
browardsinusandallergy.com
facebook.com/browardsinusandallergy

For Your Health