NE Valley Times

• The prime minister of Japan underwent sinus surgery on a Saturday and returned to work on Monday.
• He said the procedure went "smoothly" and thanked everyone for their "concerns and encouragement."
• A local doctor said that innovation has made sinus surgery faster and less invasive.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently underwent sinus surgery in Tokyo to treat chronic sinusitis, which he had previously been managing with medication.

Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center told NE Valley Times that balloon sinuplasty is a quick, painless, minimally invasive procedure, especially compared to older sinus surgeries, and it helps return the sinuses to their normal function. 

"The nice thing about the balloon sinuplasty is that it's a very conservative approach," he said. "We're not doing any cutting or tissue removal from the nasal cavity. At the time of the procedure, the balloon itself is a very small, thin probe. With the aid of our endoscope, I can see inside the nasal cavity and accurately place that balloon into the narrow sinus openings. We have different tools in our office, like image guidance, to assist us in locating and treating the right spot. Think of that as a Google Maps for your sinus cavities. Once we get that small probe into the sinus cavity, it's inflated and deflated, and then it's removed. When appropriate, we can reduce the size of the turbinates. We make small, little openings into the turbinates and reduce their size. This helps improve the efficiency of breathing."

According to AP News, Kishida had suffered from sinusitis symptoms for the past year, which he had been treating with medication. However, he decided to have the surgery “in order to be in perfect health.” Throughout the past year, local media had sometimes commented on Kishida's stuffy nose and congestion. He had the procedure done on a Saturday and said he planned to return to work the following Monday.

“The surgery went smoothly, and I have returned to my official residence,” Kishida said. “Thank you very much, everyone, for your concerns and encouragement.”

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, causing a negative effect on a person's quality of life, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). NCBI conducted a study comparing patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with patients who opted for a balloon sinuplasty and found that, although both procedures are effective, balloon sinuplasty patients needed fewer antibiotic treatments after having the procedure.

FESS involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasties are "less traumatic," since they don't include removing any tissue and instead rely on dilation to improve sinus function. FESS procedures typically take 90 minutes to two hours, and patients might need up to four weeks to recover, during which time they should avoid strenuous activities such as exercise.

On the other hand, a balloon sinuplasty procedure lasts 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities during that time, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center. 

"We typically place a small piece of dissolvable gauze inside that opening. I like to think of that as the cork in a wine bottle -- to help minimize any pain or bleeding after the procedure is completed," Gergits said. "If we can do the procedure in a very conservative fashion to maximize the outcome, we can make patients feel much better without having a trip to the operating room or the surgery center. There's no packing inside; there's no downtime. That is significant [for our patients]. Patients who have balloon sinuplasty get back to their regular routines within 24 to 48 hours. Patients definitely love that. It really is a game-changer when they're dealing with these chronic sinus troubles." 

If you're interested in learning more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.