Balloon Catheter Sinusotomy- Review of Literature

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis affects millions of people every year with significant health and economic impact (1). With advances in technology in the last couple of decades, sinus surgeries have evolved from the days of open surgeries to endoscopic surgeries. Despite these advances, problems such as bleeding, orbital or intracranial complications and cicatrisation still occur (2). Introduced in 2006, Balloon catheter sinusotomy (BCS) is considered as a tool used in endoscopic sinus (3). These are a suite of small, flexible tools that enable surgery whose role continues to evolve surgeons to endoscopically create an opening in a patient’s blocked or significantly narrowed sinus ostia and transition spaces while maximizing tissue preservation and minimizing iatrogenic mucosal injury (4). Its ability to preserve mucosa has received a lot of attention3. There is an increasing body of evidence supporting its excellent safety profile. But evidence is insufficient with regard to its indications, efficacy and long-term outcome. We attempt a review of literature to assess the current applications of BCS in otolaryngology.