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2007 Press Releases

Monmouth Medical Center Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Leads Way in Performing Innovative Procedure to Relieve Chronic Sinus Problems: Balloon Sinuplasty Marks Latest Breakthrough in Minimally Invasive Surgery

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.”

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 1-888-724-7123.

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.

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