Tag Archives: sinusitis
A Stark Reminder That Sinusitis Can Kill
Sinusitis is often caused by bacterial infections. These invading populations gain a foothold in the sinuses when inflammation stops them from draining mucus properly, creating fertile breeding grounds. For most people, sinus infections lead to pressure and pain, but in rare cases the infection can spread into surrounding tissues and present an acute danger. That’s … Continue reading A Stark Reminder That Sinusitis Can Kill
View More >>When Allergies Become Sinusitis
Seasonal allergies, also known as rhinitis, can be persistent and uncomfortable. But the sniffling and fuzzy brain are nothing compared with what can follow: full-blown sinusitis. Although many patients think of these two ailments as distinct from one another, it’s all too easy for an allergic response to cause a sinus infection: The best way … Continue reading When Allergies Become Sinusitis
View More >>A Sinusitis Cartoon
Some of you may be familiar with Khan Academy, the low-budget educational video series that grew into a venture-backed powerhouse thanks to donors such as the Gates Foundation. Its stock in trade is simple, lucid explanations of difficult concepts, all taught in a chalkboard style to aid comprehension and retention. Recently I came across this … Continue reading A Sinusitis Cartoon
View More >>The PROPEL Sinus Stent Clears a Hurdle
Initial trials of the spring-like postoperative sinus device known as the PROPEL stent were promising, which led many sinus surgeons such as myself to experience success with the device. But as with any technology, a much wider dataset becomes available once that device becomes available to the public. Last week the manufacturers released the results … Continue reading The PROPEL Sinus Stent Clears a Hurdle
View More >>Sinusitis, Sinus Infection Scripts Still Driving Antibiotic Resistance
A growing alarm has alerted many millions of Americans to the dangers of overprescribing antibiotics. These days a number of journalistic outlets have begun covering the problem in some depth, and a few of them rightly single out ENTs who reflexively reach for the pad immediately for any number of upper respiratory issues: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/video-hub/4316837400001/ As … Continue reading Sinusitis, Sinus Infection Scripts Still Driving Antibiotic Resistance
View More >>A Discussion of Balloon Sinus Surgery
As a Los Angeles sinus surgeon, I hear a lot of questions about which procedures are indicated for which ailments. If you have trouble sleeping but no known allergies, is it time for a septoplasty? (Maybe.) If you have chronic sinusitis that responds to antibiotics each time, is it time to consider surgery? (Depends.) This … Continue reading A Discussion of Balloon Sinus Surgery
View More >>The Propel Sinus Stent Chops Recovery Time
Sinus surgeons have gotten better and better at minimally invasive techniques that shorten recovery time and improve outcomes. But one constant factor has been the body’s own rate of healing: we are generally limited by the number of days necessary for swelling to reduce and bruising to disappear. The Propel sinus stent has radically changed … Continue reading The Propel Sinus Stent Chops Recovery Time
View More >>See the Propel Sinus Stent in Action
Treating issues such as sinusitis and nasal polyps occasionally requires more than one procedure. That’s because when airways are opened, the body sometimes compensates by returning to its old form, allowing inflammation to begin the same destructive cycle once again. The Propel sinus stent prevents that. This springy structure holds the airway open to prevent a … Continue reading See the Propel Sinus Stent in Action
View More >>Why Balloon Sinus Dilation Works
Another local news team has taken up the mantel of sinus balloon surgery evangelism, this time as part of a piece about chronic sinusitis and the many trials of seasonal allergies. In this video, a local surgeon discusses the various alternative to sinus balloon surgery, noting correctly that most medications represent temporary fixes at best, … Continue reading Why Balloon Sinus Dilation Works
View More >>“Watchful Waiting” On Sinus Infections
More news outlets have begun to discuss those shifting guidelines which hold that ENTs and GPs should resist the urge to overmedicate patients who present with signs of a sinus infection. The reason? The success rate for waiting is comparable to the rate with using antibiotics. The new guidelines are part of a larger conversation … Continue reading “Watchful Waiting” On Sinus Infections
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