Chronic Sinusitis

This is a guest post by Dr. Abhishek Ramadhin, who is doing his rhinology fellowship training in the Sinai Hospital Division of Otolaryngology.

Chronic sinusitis is very common in the United States, affecting about one in 10 people. The cause of chronic sinusitis and its symptoms vary from person to person.

Patients can suffer sinusitis due to allergies, nasal polyps, a deviated septum or other reasons. Symptoms can include a decreased sense of smell, facial pain and pressure, and post-nasal drip lasting more than 12 weeks.

When treating chronic sinusitis, specialists will evaluate the underlying cause for each patient. Some of the remedies we typically prescribe include nasal steroid sprays, antihistamines, nasal saline irrigations and antibiotics.

For patients who don't respond well to medications, there are surgical options.

Some patients may benefit from a safe, minimally invasive procedure called balloon sinuplasty, which differs from traditional sinus surgery in that it requires no cutting or removal of bone and tissue. Instead, balloon sinuplasty involves the use of a small, flexible balloon dilating catheter to unblock sinus passageways and drain excess mucus.

Other procedures we can perform include septoplasty, which is done to correct a deviated septum, and endoscopic sinus surgery, also done to unblock sinuses.

The Sinai Hospital Division of Otolaryngology, under the leadership of Dr. Alan Shikani, offers a full range of services for diagnosing and treatment of ENT disorders. If you are interested in making an appointment, please call 410-601-WELL or fill out our online appointment request form.