Pottstown Memorial Medical Center Offers Balloon Sinuplasty™ to its Patients Procedure Helps Treat Chronic Sinus Conditions

Patients at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center (PMMC) suffering from chronic sinus conditions can now breathe a little easier thanks to a new procedure being performed at the hospital.

Balloon Sinuplasty™ is a minimally invasive endoscopic technique for treating chronic sinus inflammation, uses a small catheter and balloon to quickly open and expand blocked sinuses. The balloon is placed through a nostril into the blocked sinus passageway, inflated to gently restructure and open the sinus passage to restore sinus drainage and function. Otolaryngologists Joshua Goldberg, D.O., and Paul Swanson, M.D., of Broker, Cramer, Swanson, and Goldberg ENT, now perform the procedure at PMMC.  “The Balloon Sinuplasty™ devices are a true advance in sinus care because in many cases it can be done without removing any tissue or bone,” according to Dr. Goldberg.  This less invasive technique leads to quicker recovery after surgery.” Dr. Swanson noted “many of my patients have been able to return to normal activities within 24 hours and have had significant improvement in their symptoms.”

Sinusitis is one of the most common conditions being treated with the procedure.  It afflicts more than 37 million Americans each year. Patients suffer headaches, congestion, fatigue and other symptoms.  This condition significantly impacts an individual’s physical, functional, and emotional quality of life.

Until recently, sinusitis patients were limited to two treatment options:  medical therapy such as antibiotics and topical nasal steroids, or conventional sinus surgery such as Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS).  Medical therapy can help alleviate symptoms for 75 to 80 percent of patients but is inadequate for the rest.  For them, sinus surgery is often the best option. However, FESS is a conventional surgery that requires bone and tissue removal in order to open up blocked sinus passageways.  In lieu of a desired treatment, more than 600,000 patients elect to live with painful sinus conditions.