Chronic Sinusitis- Treatment Modalities

Sinusitis, or rhino sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses that occurs when they are blocked by swelling or fluid. Sinusitis is defined in terms of occurrence. Acute is when symptoms are experienced, but they go away after a few days or couple weeks. Four or more of these in any given year can constitute an acute condition.  When the condition persists, it becomes chronic and may require surgical intervention to treat. Ace medical company specializes in equipment that assists the clinician / surgeon in their patient management and treatment.

The sinuses are four cavities located on the face below, above, and in between the eyes. They are the ethmoid, frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses and these are named for the bones that they are near. Conditions can exist with inflammation of any or all of these cavernous spaces.

Our sinuses serve primarily as a filtration system for the body. In addition to cilia, or small hairs that line the nose, it also accomplishes this by creating thin mucus that drains out of each channel, keeping our bodies free and clear of harmful bacteria. When the mucus is blocked and unable to flow freely, typical symptoms arise.

The causes of sinusitis can be many, it could be a deviated septum (The cartilage and bone down the middle of the nose), a viral or bacterial fungus, polyps, and, or a weak immune system.

Diagnosis

Patients often experience symptoms such as post-nasal drip, stuffiness, issues breathing, cough, fatigue, bad breath, loss of smell and taste, and pain / sensitivity. Any or all of these symptoms can make one feel miserable and in significant discomfort, ultimately preventing healthy living.

Specialists trained in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) are educated to use many tools in order to diagnose the condition. A simple visit to the doctor is the first start in your path to recovery. Once seen, a doctor may order an MRI or CT scan to analyze anatomical issues (deviated septum, polyps or others). In certain instances, a biopsy may be ordered for confirmation of a spread infection.

Oftentimes rhinitis can be treated with antibiotics and steroids alone. Only your physician will be able to tell you the best treatment path, but sometimes surgical intervention is needed. Sinus surgery is usually done under general anesthesia. Procedures are fairly quick with most being completed in less than two hours. Ace Medical Company provides several products that make these procedures more precise.

To stop bleeding, our non-stick ace bipolars provide immediate hemostasis through electrosurgery. Our 21cm 1.0mm (Part number 81460152) tip is our most popular offering for these procedures. Ace also offers a wide variety of PVA sponge packing material that gives clinicians multiple options for a tamponade effect. Pureregen Gel is a hyaluronic acid/ gel that provides a chemical / mechanical hemostat that has been shown to promote regeneration of the mucosal membrane, which can lead to faster healing and a higher patient satisfaction.

Reconstruction

Occasionally reconstruction of the sinus may be required, and oftentimes surgeons will use an internal splint to help promote a straight even healing of the septum. These come in several styles, bivalve, Breathe Easy, Dempsey and others.  For additional or separate stability, your surgeon may elect to use an External Nasal Splint. These come in a Soft-Form Padded Aluminum or a Thermoplastic Nasal Splint. Severe sinus injury can result in the need to implant a Septal Button as well. Finally, a surgeon may elect to use a Disposable Suction to assure that to reduce clogs and issues typically associated with reusable models.

Sinus surgeries to treat sinusitis are not for the faint of heart, since it is a very sensitive region of the body it can be quite painful recovering. Fortunately, once the condition is treated patients experience a much higher Quality of Life (QOL) score.