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LONG
BRANCH, NJ, JANUARY 3, 2007 - Navigating
through the complex twists and turns of the paranasal sinuses
to open blocked passageways is becoming easier through an innovative
new surgical treatment recently unveiled at Monmouth Medical
Center.
Heralded as the latest breakthrough in minimally invasive, endoscopic
surgery to relieve chronic sinus problems, balloon sinuplasty
is being pioneered at Monmouth by otolaryngologist Vin Prabhat,
M.D. He is one of only two ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists
in New Jersey — and among 220 physicians in the United
States — who completed advanced training in the procedure,
which is the first federally approved catheter-based tool designed
specifically for endoscopic sinus surgery.
“Most people are quite surprised to learn that 37 million
people in the United States are affected by sinusitis each year,
making it one of the most common health problems not only throughout
the United States, but especially right here in New Jersey,” says
Dr. Prabhat.
He points to national statistics that show patients with sinusitis — an
inflammation or infection of the mucous-lined sinus cavities — make
nearly 32 million visits to their physicians each year, seeking
relief from such chronic symptoms as facial pain, congestion,
postnasal drip, cough and headaches.
For these individuals, balloon sinuplasty could be the long-term
solution to those persistent cold-like problems.
“This new, sophisticated surgical tool is providing extremely
effective for a growing number of patients who have not found
relief from medications, such as antibiotics and antihistamines,
and more traditional sinus surgery,” says Dr. Prabhat,
who completed specialty training in balloon sinuplasty shortly
after it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval
in 2005. “It represents an exciting development in the
arena of image-guided endoscopic surgery to clear the sinus passageways,
usually without the need to remove tissue or bone.”
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| Monmouth Medical Center otolaryngologist Vin Prabhat,
M.D., is one of only two ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists
in New Jersey — and among 220 physicians in the United
States — who completed advanced training in balloon
sinuplasty. He’s pictured here in the Cranmer Ambulatory
Surgery Center at Monmouth with the device, which is the
first federally approved catheter-based tool designed specifically
for endoscopic sinus surgery. |
Similar to how balloon angioplasty is performed to open clogged
arteries, balloon sinuplasty applies the same technological principle
to unblock the sinus passageways. A small, soft and flexible
balloon catheter is inserted through the nostrils and is guided
under 3-D imaging technology to site of the sinus blockage.
The tiny balloon is then gently inflated — just enough
to restructure and widen the walls of the sinus passageways.
The balloon is deflated and removed, restoring normal sinus drainage
and function.
“The purpose of the procedure is to clean out the sinuses
by dilating and expanding the tunnels leading from the sinuses
to the nose so that there is less of a chance for a blockage
to reoccur,” Dr. Prabhat explains. “Because of
its balloon catheter design and by using fluoroscopy to position
the catheter, we are able to do a better job in otherwise hard-to-reach
sinuses, such as the frontal sinuses located above the eyes,
with less tearing or cutting of the nasal mucous membranes.”
As a result, the procedure can be completed in less time and
with better outcomes, and patients usually experience less bleeding,
discomfort and complications, and a shorter recovery time.
The performance of balloon sinuplasty is further enhanced at
Monmouth Medical Center by an advanced computed tomography (CT)
scan-guided imaging system, which displays 3-D images of the
treatment site during the actual procedure. In 2000, Monmouth
was the first hospital in the region to become equipped with
the guidance system, which combines preoperative CT scans of
the patient’s sinuses with information it receives during
surgery from special sensors on the surgeon’s instruments
and on the patient’s head.
“With the advent of balloon sinuplasty as another tool
in the advanced surgical treatment of chronic sinus problems,
there is growing confidence among the medical community-at-large
that it shows great promise of becoming a mainstay in the surgical
treatment of chronically blocked sinuses,” says Dr. Prabhat,
who completed his training in otolaryngology at the prestigious
Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City, in 1997 before becoming
board certified in 1998 and a fellow of the American College
of Surgeons in 2000. He joined Shrewsbury-based Central Jersey
Otolaryngology in 2002. “At Monmouth Medical Center, we
are leading the way in offering our patients this new treatment
option.”
For more information about balloon sinuplasty, call Monmouth
Medical Center, an affiliate of the Saint Barnabas Health Care
System,
at (888) SBHS-123.
A Close-Up Look at the Sinuses
Sinuses are four pairs of air-filled, membrane-lined cavities
located within the bones of the face on either side of the
nose. They are designed to filter out dust and other particles
while warming and humidifying the air that we breathe.
Monmouth Medical Center otolaryngologist Vin Prabhat, M.D.,
characterizes the nose and its sinuses as this: “Picture
a hotel hallway with room doors on both sides. In properly working
sinuses, the doors are open and the air is able to circulate
into the rooms, while the mucus is able to clear out without
hindrance. When the doorways become obstructed or closed, the
mucous doesn’t drain, and it sits in the sinuses and becomes
a fertile breeding ground for bacteria.”
This causes the membranes inside the sinuses and nose to become
swollen, leading to an infection or sinusitis. The acute form
of the condition usually begins with a cold, allergy attack or
irritation from environmental sources that causes nasal pressure,
nasal congestion and even a fever leading to possible overgrowth
by bacteria. When these symptoms become frequent and persist
for several months or longer — without relief from medications
or other conservative forms of treatment — it can lead
to chronic sinusitis and even polyp formation.
CONTACT: Jason
R. Baran
Public
Relations Specialist
(732)
557-3909 |
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