What is a Migraine? Migraine headaches can be quite debilitating. It is usually a severe headache typically centered more around one eye, worsened by light, lasting for hours, and may be associated with nausea. These are neurological headaches caused by a dilation of the blood vessels in the brain. These headaches are evaluated and treated […]
You may have heard of a non-invasive procedure called balloon sinuplasty to treat chronic sinusitis. For many years, traditional sinus surgery was performed, where the sinus tissue and bone are cut and removed; this produces significant discomfort, bleeding, and poor outcomes for patients. Luckily balloon sinuplasty was created and approved by the FDA in 2005, now […]
There are many reasons why a person will have an overly runny nose. It is important to understand these various causes and address them individually rather than use a shotgun approach with medical treatments. What causes a runny nose? Allergy Allergy is a very common cause for a runny nose. It is essentially a misfiring […]
A little background about the sinuses – The sinuses are actually called the “paranasal” sinuses, meaning “around the nose cavities”. These hollow cavities surround the nose and have a thin lining that produces liquid. This liquid then moves by directional ciliary flow (often against gravity) to small natural pathways that enter into the nose. The […]
You may have been told that your sinus infection is a “mold” sinus infection. Typically along with this explanation, you may have been told that there is no good treatment for this condition. Allergic Fungal Sinusitis (AFS) is a very frustrating condition to treat as it is not like a typical bacterial sinus infection at […]
Can severe sinus issues be treated with the new Balloon Sinuplasty technology or does it require the patient to have traditional sinus surgery? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Below is the before picture of a patient with a very severe sinus issue. The sinus cavities should be black, meaning-filled with […]
The Balloon Sinuplasty procedure is NOT the same anywhere you go! Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively new treatment for chronic sinus issues. For years ENT doctors had two choices available to treat this issue: Medical therapies and sinus surgery. When medical treatment failed, Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) would be offered. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery […]
1. The balloon is left in the sinuses Actually no material is left in the sinuses. The balloon is inserted in to the sinus outflow tract, inflated, deflated, then removed. Unlike cardiac blood vessel dilation the sinus outflow tract area is made of fine compressible bone and no stent is left or required. 2. The […]
There are several things you can do to avoid getting a sinus infection. Obviously, washing hands thoroughly, avoiding people with active infection, avoiding cold exposure which dries the sinus lining are all helpful. Allergy control is also critical. Allergic inflammation of the nose and sinuses reduces the natural defenses of the sinus lining making it […]
Dr. Slaughter pioneered the use of IV sedation in the office for balloon sinuplasty procedures. As a Center of Excellence training center for ENT physicians nationally he has optimized and refined this approach to provide the ultimate in patient comfort and safety. It may surprise patients to hear that most balloon sinuplasty procedures performed in […]
