Position Statement: Dilation of sinuses, any method (e.g., balloon, etc.)

Sinus ostial dilation is a therapeutic option for selected patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) who have failed appropriate medical therapy. Clinical diagnosis of CRS and RARS should be based on symptoms of sinusitis and supported by nasal endoscopy documenting sinonasal abnormality and evidence of mucosal thickening on computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses. This approach may be used alone to dilate an obstructed sinus ostium (frontal, maxillary, or sphenoid) or in conjunction with other instruments (e.g., microdebrider, forceps). The final decision regarding use of techniques or instrumentation for sinus surgery is the responsibility of the attending surgeon.

Revised 12/6/2010
Adopted 6/28/2010
Reaffirmed 12/8/2012
Re-reviewed and References Added 1/2/2014
Submitted for Review 12/14/2015
Reviewed 7/28/2016
Revisions Approved 03/12/2017
Revised 4/13/2021

References

1. Achar P., Duvvi S. & Kumar B.N. Endoscopic dilatation sinus surgery (FEDS) versus functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a pilot study. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2012; 32, 314-319.
2. Atkins J, Truitt T. In-office balloon dilation of the ethmoid infundibulum. Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology. 2010; 21:102-106.
3. Bikhazi N et al. Standalone balloon dilation versus sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up. Am J Rhinol All. 2014;28:323-9.
4. Bolger  WE, Brown CL, Church CA, et al. Safety and outcomes of balloon catheter sinusotomy: a multicenter 24-week analysis in 115 patients. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2007; 137(1):10-20.
5. Brodner D, Nachlas N, Mock P, et al. Safety and outcomes following hybrid balloon and balloon-only procedures using a multifunction, multisinus balloon dilation tool. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013 Aug;3(8):652-8.
6. Brown CL, Bolger WE.  Safety and feasibility of balloon catheter dilation of paranasal sinus ostia: a preliminary investigation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2006; 115(4):293-299. Sep;27(5):416-22. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3970. Epub 2013 Aug 5.
7. Chandra, RK, Kern, RC, Cutler, JL, Welch, KC and Russell, PT (2015). REMODEL larger cohort with long-term outcomes and meta-analysis of standalone balloon dilation studies. The Laryngoscope. doi: 10.1002/lary.25507
8. Christmas DA, Mirante JP, Yanagisawa E.  Endoscopic view of balloon catheter dilation of sinus ostia (balloon sinuplasty). Ear Nose Throat J. 2006; 85(11): 698, 700.
9. Cutler J., Bikhazi N., Light J., Truitt T., Schwartz M. & Investigators A.T. Standalone balloon dilation versus sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013. Sep;27(5):416-22. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3970. Epub 2013 Aug 5.
10. Fokkens W et al. European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2012
11. Friedman M, Schalch P, Lin HC, et al. Functional endoscopic dilatation of the sinuses: patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, and cost. Am J Rhinol. 2008; 22(2):204-209.
12. Gould J et al. In-office, multisinus balloon dilation: 1-Year outcomes from a prospective, multicenter, open label trial. Am J Rhinol All. 2014;2:156-63.
13. Hathorn et al. Randomized controlled trial: hybrid technique using balloon dilation of the frontal sinus drainage pathway. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2015;5:167-73.
14. Karanfilov B, Silvers S, Pasha R, et al. Office-based balloon sinus dilation: a prospective, multicenter study of 203 patients. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013; 3(5):404-411.
15. Kuhn FA, Church CA, Goldberg AN, et al. Balloon catheter sinusotomy: one-year follow-up–outcomes and role in functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008; 139(3 Suppl 3):S27-37.
16. Levine HL, Sertich AP 2nd, Hoisington DR, et al.; PatiENT Registry Study Group. Multicenter registry of balloon catheter sinusotomy outcomes for 1,036 patients. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2008; 117(4):263-270.
17. Levine SB, Truitt T, Schwartz M, Atkins J. In-Office Stand-Alone Balloon Dilation of Maxillary Sinus Ostia and Ethmoid Infundibula in Adults With Chronic or Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis: A Prospective, Multi-institutional Study With 1-Year Follow-Up. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2013;122:665-671.
18. Levy et al. Paranasal Sinus Balloon Catheter Dilation for Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;154:33-40.
19. Orlandi R et al. International Consensus Statement of Rhinosinusitis. Int For Allergy Rhinology
20. Payne SC et al. Medical therapy versus sinus surgery by using balloon sinus dilation technology: A prospective multicenter study. Am J Rhinol All. 2016;30:279-86.
21. Plaza G, Eisenberg G, Montojo J, Onrubia T, Urbasos M, O’Connor C. Balloon dilation of the frontal recess: a randomized clinical trial. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2011. Aug;120 (8):511-8.
22. Prince A and Bhattacharyya N. An Analysis of Adverse Event Reporting in Balloon Sinus Procedures. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;154:748-53
23. Ramadan HH, McLaughlin K, Josephson G, et al. Balloon catheter sinuplasty in young children. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2010; 24(1):e54-56.
24. Rudmik L et al. Defining appropriateness criteria for endoscopic sinus surgery during management of uncomplicated adult chronic rhinosinusitis: a RAND/UCLA appropriateness study. Int For Allergy Rhinology
25. Sikand et al. Office-Based Balloon Sinus Dilation: 1-Year Follow-up of a Prospective, Multicenter Study. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2015;124:630-7.
26. Sillers MJ et al. In-office balloon catheter dilation: analysis of 628 patients from an administrative claims database. Laryngoscope. 2015;125:42-8
27. Soler ZM, Smith TL. Quality-of-life outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery: how long is long enough? Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010; 143:621-5.
28. Stankiewicz J, Tami T, Truitt T, et al. Impact of chronic rhinosinusitis on work productivity through one-year follow-up after balloon dilation of the ethmoid infundibulum. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2011 Jan-Feb; 1 (1): 38-45.
29. Stankiewicz J, Tami Y, Truitt T. et al. Transantral, endoscopically guided balloon dilatation of the ostiomeatal complex for chronic rhinosinusitis under local anesthesia. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2009; 23(3):321-327.
30. Stankiewicz J, Truitt T, Atkins J, et al. Two-year results: transantral balloon dilation of the ethmoid infundibulum. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2012; 2:199-206.
31. Tomazic PV, Stammberger H, Braun H, et al. Feasibility of balloon sinuplasty in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: the Graz experience. Rhinology. 2013; Jun;51(2):120-7.
32. Vaughn WC. Review of balloon sinuplasty. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008; 16:2-9.
33. Wang et al. Sinus balloon catheter dilation in pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis resistant to medical therapy. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015; 141:526-31.
34. Weiss RL, Church CA, Kuhn FA, et al. Long-term outcome analysis of balloon catheter sinusotomy: two-year follow-up. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2008; 139(3 Suppl 3):S38-46.
35. Wittkopf ML. Becker SS. Duncavage JA. Russell PT. Balloon sinuplasty for the surgical management of immunecompromised and critically ill patients with acute rhinosinusitis. Oto Head & Neck Surg. 2009 Apr; 140(4); 596-598.

Revised: 12/6/2010
Adopted: 6/28/2010
Reaffirmed: 12/8/2012
Re-reviewed and References Added: 1/2/2014
Submitted for Review: 12/14/2015
Reviewed: 7/28/2016
Revisions Approved: 03/12/2017
Revised 4/13/2021

Important Disclaimer Notice (Updated 7/31/14)

Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Position statements are not intended to and should not be treated as legal, medical, or business advice.