American Rhinologic Society Releases Position Statement On Balloon Sinuplasty

Main Category: Ear, Nose and Throat
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 04 Oct 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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A recently introduced technology for sinus disease, balloon sinuplasty, has limited surgical indications at this time, according to a position statement released today by the Board of Directors of the American Rhinologic Society (ARS). However, the statement also suggests that the technology may be shown to have a significant role in the surgical management of sinus disease.

The Society is the world's largest professional organization for physicians, primarily otolaryngologists, who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of patients with diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The Board of Directors of the 1,000-member society issued the position statement to its members, their patients and others who may be interested in the technology.

While balloon sinuplasty, which uses a balloon dilation technology similar to that used to open clogged arteries, "is an interesting and potentially helpful adjunct to medical and surgical management of rhinosinusitis," according to the statement, "additional studies are needed."

The ARS statement seeks to clarify the Society's view of the technology, which is:

-- Balloon dilation technology may have potential application where surgical management of sinus disease is required.

-- The technology has limited surgical indications at this time.

-- Patients treated with balloon dilation may still require conventional sinus surgery.

-- In a small group of very selected patients, the use of balloon dilation technology alone may eliminate the need for other surgical procedures.

The Society bases its statement on a review of two published studies and a presentation of data at the just-completed American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) meeting in Toronto, Ontario.

One of the published studies described the technical feasibility of using balloons to dilate sinus openings in cadavers. The second, a safety study, reviewed results in 10 patients where 18 sinuses were operated on. The study reported that the technology could be performed safely; 8 of the 10 patients required concurrent sinus surgery. The not-yet-published study was presented September 19, 2006, at the AAO-HNS meeting and reported 24 week follow-up data in a larger group of 109 patients and indicated that sinus patency was maintained in most all of the patients over a 24 week period.

ARS will continue to monitor the scientific data on this technology and update its statement when appropriate. Physicians, patients and others can visit the ARS web site at http://www.american-rhinologic.org.

American Rhinologic Society
http://www.american-rhinologic.org

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