In-office balloon dilation of the ethmoid infundibulum

Maxillary antrostomy using balloon catheters in an office setting may offer surgeons another option for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Historically, endoscopic sinus surgery and balloon dilatation of sinus ostia have been performed in an operating room or surgical suite under general anesthesia. A new set of tools has been developed to enable access to, and balloon dilatation of, the maxillary sinus outflow tract using direct, endoscopic visualization and local anesthesia. Using these tools and the methods described below, balloon dilation can be safely performed in the office of the physician's medical practice.