Sinusitis FAQ

Stents used in sinus surgery

Question:

Is anyone aware of a procedure where silastic stents (flexible plastic tubes) are inserted into the patient’s frontal ducts during surgery, after the surgeon has opened or widened the natural canal?  The special silastic stents are apparently left in place for a period of 6-8 months to prevent post-op stenosis (closure) of the frontal ducts and allow drainage from the frontal sinuses until the healing is complete. I have spoken to a sinus specialist at the Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute claiming that the success rate using stenting on selected patients with frontal sinusitis is quite high. The headaches are also alleviated. I welcome any comments or personal experiences regarding this procedure. Regards, Michael Muloin Vancouver, BC, Canada

Response:

Wow, does this sound like it may have possibilities!!  After all, stents have been so successful on so many other avenues.  Where is the place in GA, please?  Or, do you have any further info about the who and where aspect? Thanks, Susan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Michael Muloin wrote in message … >Is anyone aware of a procedure where silastic stents (flexible plastic >tubes) are inserted into the patient’s frontal ducts during surgery, after >the surgeon has opened or widened the natural canal?  The special silastic >stents are apparently left in place for a period of 6-8 months to prevent >post-op stenosis (closure) of the frontal ducts and allow drainage from the >frontal sinuses until the healing is complete. >I have spoken to a sinus specialist at the Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute >claiming that the success rate using stenting on selected patients with >frontal sinusitis is quite high. The headaches are also alleviated. >I welcome any comments or personal experiences regarding this procedure. >Regards, >Michael Muloin >Vancouver, BC, Canada

Response:

I have heard of this procedure….from my ENT, who was going to consider something like that if I needed it…turns out I didn’t have frontal sinus problems on my CT scan, so I didn’t ask more about it or try to research it any further (I had my hands full researching what was going to be done with the other procedures!). I don’t recall him saying that the stents would stay in that long, though. Sounds like an interesting concept.     I did have FESS in May — with GREAT results…feel better than I have in years….but didn’t need anything done with the frontal sinuses. Michele

Response:

The Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute is located in Savannah, GA and is headed by Dr. Frederick Kuhn who is one the leading specialist for frontal sinusitis in the U.S. Chronic frontal sinusitis is especially difficult to cure because of the tendency of the narrow frontal ducts to close off during the healing process.  My right frontal ostium was opened to 4mm during my last surgery, and three months later it had virtually closed off due to neo-bone formation and scarring.  Nonetheless, I believe that stenting offers some hope. However, I would be curious to find out from other contributors in this newsgroup who have had endoscopic frontal sinus surgery, what to expect for surgeon’s fees in the U.S.? Regards, Michael Muloin Vancouver, BC, Canada ssohni <sso…@frontiernet.net> wrote in message

news:7oqeau$ld8$1@node17.cwnet.frontiernet.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Wow, does this sound like it may have possibilities!!  After all, stents > have been so successful on so many other avenues.  Where is the place in GA, > please?  Or, do you have any further info about the who and where aspect? > Thanks, Susan > Michael Muloin wrote in message … > >Is anyone aware of a procedure where silastic stents (flexible plastic > >tubes) are inserted into the patient’s frontal ducts during surgery, after > >the surgeon has opened or widened the natural canal?  The special silastic > >stents are apparently left in place for a period of 6-8 months to prevent > >post-op stenosis (closure) of the frontal ducts and allow drainage from the > >frontal sinuses until the healing is complete. > >I have spoken to a sinus specialist at the Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute > >claiming that the success rate using stenting on selected patients with > >frontal sinusitis is quite high. The headaches are also alleviated. > >I welcome any comments or personal experiences regarding this procedure. > >Regards, > >Michael Muloin > >Vancouver, BC, Canada

Response:

Michael, I am always curious, but especially about this, when people say so and so is the foremost authority on a topic or considered the best, etc.  I would like to know by whom?  IOW, who said that this gentleman is one of the leading specialists for frontals in the US?  I have had lots of dealings with the medical community in the past year (more than I ever would wish for) and have learned to question everything.  Have also learned they are usually the first to blow    their horns…their own horns. But don’t intend for this to sound snippy.  Really would like to know who is doing the evaluating? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Michael Muloin wrote in message >The Georgia Nasal & Sinus Institute is located in Savannah, GA and is headed >by Dr. Frederick Kuhn who is one the leading specialist for frontal >sinusitis in the U.S. >Chronic frontal sinusitis is especially difficult to cure because of the >tendency of the narrow frontal ducts to close off during the healing >process.  My right frontal ostium was opened to 4mm during my last surgery, >and three months later it had virtually closed off due to neo-bone formation >and scarring.  Nonetheless, I believe that stenting offers some hope. >However, I would be curious to find out from other contributors in this >newsgroup who have had endoscopic frontal sinus surgery, what to expect for >surgeon’s fees in the U.S.? >Regards, >Michael Muloin >Vancouver, BC, Canada >ssohni <sso…@frontiernet.net> wrote in message >news:7oqeau$ld8$1@node17.cwnet.frontiernet.net… >> Wow, does this sound like it may have possibilities!!  After all, stents >> have been so successful on so many other avenues.  Where is the place in >GA, >> please?  Or, do you have any further info about the who and where aspect? >> Thanks, Susan >> Michael Muloin wrote in message … >> >Is anyone aware of a procedure where silastic stents (flexible plastic >> >tubes) are inserted into the patient’s frontal ducts during surgery, >after >> >the surgeon has opened or widened the natural canal?  The special >silastic >> >stents are apparently left in place for a period of 6-8 months to prevent >> >post-op stenosis (closure) of the frontal ducts and allow drainage from >the >> >frontal sinuses until the healing is complete. >> >I have spoken to a sinus specialist at the Georgia Nasal & Sinus >Institute >> >claiming that the success rate using stenting on selected patients with >> >frontal sinusitis is quite high. The headaches are also alleviated. >> >I welcome any comments or personal experiences regarding this procedure. >> >Regards, >> >Michael Muloin >> >Vancouver, BC, Canada

Response:

This is the opinion of two other sinus specialists that I have spoken to. Dr. Kuhn teaches advanced courses in endoscopic sinus surgery and has written several published articles on frontal sinusitis. You may be able to find some of these articles on the Internet. Regards, Michael Muloin ssohni <sso…@frontiernet.net> wrote in message

news:7osgtt$10o0$1@node17.cwnet.frontiernet.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Michael, I am always curious, but especially about this, when people say so > and so is the foremost authority on a topic or considered the best, etc. I > would like to know by whom?  IOW, who said that this gentleman is one of the > leading specialists for frontals in the US?  I have had lots of dealings > with the medical community in the past year (more than I ever would wish > for) and have learned to question everything.  Have also learned they are > usually the first to blow    their horns…their own horns. > But don’t intend for this to sound snippy.  Really would like to know who is > doing the evaluating?

Response:

Filed under: Frontal sinusitis

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