Lake Regional Health System | Thrive | Winter 2020

EAR, NOSE & THROAT W hen sinuses become infected, medicine is the first line of defense. Nose drops, saline washes, steroid sprays, antibiotics and other medications often help reduce swelling and knock down infections. But some people develop sinus problems that become chronic. Months — or years — of headaches, pain and misery can follow. According to otolaryngologist Keith Bonacquisti, M.D., at Lake Regional ENT & Audiology, if medications don’t work, your doctor may suggest sinus surgery. The goal of surgery If sinuses don’t drain properly, pus and mucus can build up and become infected. Air also needs to move freely through the sinuses, or it can become trapped or cause a vacuum. “Any of these conditions can lead to pressure and pain,” Dr. Bonacquisti says. The goal of surgery is to improve drainage and reduce blockages so that the complex pathways between the sinuses and the nose work better. Surgery helps by: • Enlarging the natural openings of the sinuses. • Correcting anatomical problems. • Removing growths, called polyps. Heated indoor air tends to be dry, which can irritate and inflame airways and lead to a tender, stuffy nose and unproductive cough. That’s why doctors often recommend using a home humidifier during the winter months. Be sure to follow the cleaning and operation instructions that come with your unit, as well as the following tips: SINUSES: When you need surgery Types of surgery Today sinus surgery is usually done entirely through the nose, with no external scars. Sur- geons use techniques that cause much less pain and downtime than older surgical techniques. Sinus surgery options include: • Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which involves inserting a very thin, lighted tool called an endoscope through the nose. This allows the surgeon to see the sinuses. Using microinstruments, small amounts of bone or tissue are removed to enlarge and clear blocked areas to improve drainage. Sometimes the inside anatomy of the nose needs to be repaired, too. • Image-guided surgery, which involves a multidimensional mapping system, CT scans and infrared signals to guide surgeons through the sinus passages. The signals and scans help surgeons know exactly where to fix the sinus passages. • Balloon catheter sinuplasty, a minimally invasive technique that uses a soft, flexible wire threaded through the nose to reach the sinuses. A small balloon attached to the wire is then gradually inflated to gently open the blocked areas. Used alone, sinuplasty doesn’t require cutting, so it pre- serves the original nasal tissue. But depending on the location, extent and cause of sinus problems, doctors may use a hybrid Tips for using a humidifier 8 | Winter 2020 Keith Bonacquisti, M.D.