Hironari Kanemura

A Unique Balloon Catheter for Maxillary Sinus Surgery

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the use of a unique balloon catheter (sinus balloon) for maxillary sinus surgery, and to compare the clinical usefulness of this catheter to the conventional gauze pack with antibiotic ointment with respect to postoperative discomfort. Patients and Methods: 195 patients, who underwent Caldwell-Luc maxillary sinus surgery using the sinus balloon catheter were compared with 24 patients who underwent the same surgery using the gauze pack. Postoperative haemorrhage with the material in the sinus and haemorrhage at removal were evaluated. For 32 patients in the sinus balloon catheter group who had previously experienced maxillary sinus surgery using the gauze pack and 24 patients in the gauze pack group, pain at removal of the material was investigated by questionnaire. Results: There was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative haemorrhage between the 2 groups. The rates of haemorrhage and subjective pain level at removal of the material from the sinus were significantly lower for patients in the sinus balloon catheter group than for those in the gauze pack group. Twenty seven of 29 patients (93.1%) who completed the questionnaire preferred the sinus balloon catheter to the gauze pack. Conclusion: The sinus balloon catheter can reduce postoperative discomfort, and its compressive haemostatic effect is equal to that of the gauze pack. The sinus balloon is considered more clinically useful for maxillary sinus surgery than the gauze pack.