nationally renowned pioneer of in-office balloon sinus dilation
Just more than a year ago, St. Louis Sinus Center opened its state-of-the-art facility in The Village at Schneithorst’s, one of the most technologically advanced medical offices in the country. In this ultra-modern and convenient Ladue location, founder and medical director Dr. James Gould has perfected balloon sinus dilation, an innovative, noninvasive procedure that provides lasting relief to patients with chronic sinus issues.
Introduced in 2005, the procedure was derived from the field of cardiology, where tiny balloons have been used for years to gently dilate blocked arteries. With balloon sinus dilation, the goal is to open blocked sinus passages to allow adequate ventilation and restore natural drainage. It doesn’t require surgically opening a hole in the sinus, but rather preserves the natural anatomy of the nose by reshaping the bony part of the sinus and remodeling the opening. Dr. Gould and the St. Louis Sinus Center pioneered the way for in-office balloon sinus dilation across the nation.
“Balloon sinus dilation really has transformed how patients are treated with regard to chronic and recurring sinus infections and sinusitis compared to 10 years ago,” Dr. Gould says. “Back then, almost everyone who had chronic infections that were not resolved with antibiotic therapy would go on to have endoscopic sinus surgery.”
He says the procedure takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Patients are sedated, but afterward, they can walk out on their own with a loved one. “It’s a much easier procedure with much less risk, less pain medication and a faster recovery,” Dr. Gould notes. “Ninety-eight percent of our patients are back to normal activity and work the next day.”
Patients who qualify for balloon dilation typically see remarkable long-term results. Nearly 500 physicians from around the country have visited the St. Louis Sinus Center to observe Dr. Gould’s techniques and strategies so they can implement the procedure in their own practices.
“Until about seven years ago, the procedure almost was always done in an operating room,” Dr. Gould notes. “In 2011, we were the first in St. Louis and one of the first in the country to develop a protocol to bring it to the office without general anesthesia. We pioneered moving it from the operating room to reduce cost and risk.”
Dr. Gould and his team see patients for a variety of symptoms and chronic ailments, including recurrent sinus infections, seasonal allergies, and snoring or other sinus-related sleep disruptions. They perform extensive allergy testing and treatment, including allergy shot therapy and a newer approach called sublingual immunotherapy. For this, patients place drops under their tongue once a day rather than getting an allergy shot.
With more than 20 years of experience in allergy and rhinology, Dr. Gould takes a thorough, three-step approach with each patient for the most successful outcome. “We take the patient’s history and perform a solid physical exam,” he explains. “That’s the cornerstone of any accurate diagnosis. We then look in the nose to make sure we see everything in great detail, and we almost always need to get a sinus X-ray or sinus CT, as well as an allergy skin test. Once we have those results, we can formulate an accurate diagnosis so we know what we’re treating and have a good chance of making patients better. We don’t guess.”
1588 s. lindbergh blvd., ste. 210 | 314.4-relief (473.5433) | stlsinuscenter.com
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