The symptoms of nasal problems and sinus infections can wear you down.
Congestion, facial pressure, headache, fatigue, chronic cough, sore throat and bad breath are all typical of chronic sinus infection. Acute sinus infections, however, more commonly include sinus headaches, facial pain, flu-like symptoms and fever. Both chronic and acute sinus infections require medical treatment.
Patients with nasal and sinus troubles often don’t realize that their symptoms are actually caused by allergies. Other patients have structural problems such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps, old nasal fractures or internal deformities. Some may even have nasal tumors. With our advanced capabilities for treating nasal and sinus problems, the ENT physicians at Capital Otolaryngology can determine the precise cause of your symptoms and provide the best treatment.
Many patients can be treated effectively with prescription allergy medications. Some require antibiotic therapy for a sinus infection. Our physicians can obtain accurate cultures of the sinuses with painless nasal endoscopy to take the guess work out of the antibiotic choice. Oral antibiotics can be used alone or in combination with customized nasal sprays containing antibiotic combinations specific for the patients infection.
In some cases, surgery is needed to correct structural problems, open the passages, and remove the infection. Dr. Daniel Slaughter, Dr. Christopher Thompson and Dr. Zachary Wassmuth have developed techniques that do not require any surgical packing and dramatically reduce the pain previously associated with nasal and sinus surgery. Minimally invasive procedures performed under CT scan guidance and with the assistance of gentle balloons result in excellent outcomes with minimal downtime. Close follow-up in the office with painless nasal endoscopic exam and our own in office CT scan helps ensure the best result possible.
Our ear-nose-throat specialists have extensive experience in nasal problems and chronic sinusitis and enjoy an exceptional reputation for their work in these areas. Capital Otolaryngology has the qualifications and ability to direct and manage all forms of treatment, correct problems based on the individual needs of the patient and ensure surgical success and safety. Below are some of the treatment options we offer at Capital Otolaryngology in Austin, TX.
Endoscopic nasal & sinus surgery — This outpatient procedure uses a small telescope inserted in the nose so that we can open the nasal and sinus passageways, remove polyps and obstructions with a high degree of precision, remove the infection, and wash the sinus cavities with antibiotics. Our unique minimally invasive techniques greatly minimize the risk and discomfort often found in traditional surgery sinus surgery. We use the latest in CT scan guided balloon sinuplasty to avoid any nasal packing, dramatically reduce discomfort, and speed the patient’s recovery.
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CT Scan Guided sinus surgery - This technique uses sophisticated 3 dimensional reconstruction of the patients CT scan to serve as a real time guide during the sinus surgery. This pinpoint accuracy results in more accurate and complete sinus surgery with less risk of complications.
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Balloon sinuplasty – This procedure uses a thin balloon similar to an angioplasty balloon to open the sinus passages and resolve chronic sinus pressure, sinus headaches, and chronic sinus infections.
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Septoplasty – This corrective surgical procedure is done to straighten the nasal septum (the partition that separates the right and left nasal passage). A deviated septum can restrict airflow through the nasal cavities causing difficulty in exercise, disruption of breathing during sleep, headache, sinus pressure, and nasal bleeding. Many patients with a deviated septum may chronically require decongestants or topical nasal sprays. Patient’s may also have reduced success with their allergy medicine because of a deviated septum. Our advanced techniques allow for the correction of the deviated septum without any packing or splinting, dramatically reducing discomfort and speeding recovery.
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Turbinate reduction — Enlarged turbinates (the structure that projects from the side wall of the nose into the nasal cavity) cause chronic nasal congestion and can contribute to headaches, sinus pressure, and sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Our technique for turbinate reduction is a minimally invasive procedure that can reduce the congestion using gentle endoscopic procedures without pain and without the uncomfortable packing usually involved with these procedures.
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Nasal polypectomy - Recurrent nasal polyps can mean a lifetime of chronic nasal congestion and recurring sinus infections. Our unique techniques enable us to perform a complete removal of the polyps without the need for painful nasal packing. We also perform extensive evaluation into the numerous causes of recurring nasal polyps to address the underlying reasons and prevent the recurrence.
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Fungal sinus infections - Fungal sinus infections are becoming increasingly common. Often misdiagnosed, these infections have been notoriously difficult to treat in the past. We offer a comprehensive approach combining state of the art sinus surgery with topical antifungal therapy. Many patients who have presented with “incurable” fungal sinusitis have been completely cured.
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Septal perforations - Holes can develop in the nasal septum for a variety of reasons including trauma and drug use. Perforations cause recurring nasal bleeding, crusting, and nasal congestion. Our advanced endoscopic techniques allow for repair of perforations of all sizes with no visible incisions, no need for harvesting of grafting material, and no permanent foreign material placed in the nose.
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Nasal Bleeding - Nasal bleeding can be from many causes. Most commonly it occurs from small dilated blood vessels just inside the nose. These can be successfully treated with a simple outpatient procedure. Other causes include: a deviated septum, a septal perforation, nasal polyps, and even nasal tumors. We can perform painless nasal endoscopy in the office to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
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For more information on nasal and sinus conditions — or any other ear, nose or throat conditions — call Capital Otolaryngology today.