Propel Sinus Stent Relieves Chronic Sinusitis

Advanced Treatment for Chronic Sinusitis

If you’re one among the eight adults in America that are affected by chronic sinusitis each year, Villa Rica Ear, Nose & Throat can help you deal with this common health condition. 

Located around the nose and eyes, your sinuses are air-filled cavities that allow for airflow and drainage. In cases of chronic sinusitis, the sinus linings become swollen and inflamed, thus preventing natural drainage of the pathways and leading to chronic infections and nasal blockage.

To find out if the Propel Sinus Stent is right for you, call (770) 459-0408.

Symptoms and Medications

Patients with chronic sinusitis may experience the following symptoms:

• Facial pain, pressure, or fullness
• Nasal congestion
• Headaches
• Discolored nasal discharge
• Loss of smell and/or taste

In many cases, chronic sinusitis can be treated with medication:

• Antibiotics
• Nasal steroids
• Antihistamines
• Oral steroids
• Decongestants
• Saline irrigation

If medication does not provide lasting results, a Propel Sinus Stent may be the appropriate solution.

The Propel Sinus Stent

If your symptoms linger – even after taking medication – sinus surgery may be the best solution for your condition. One of our board-certified ENT surgeons will enter your sinuses via the nostrils to open blocked sinus pathways so they’ll drain better and your breathing will improve. 

Despite the benefits of surgery for many patients, inflammation and scarring can be a result of the procedure – even within the first 30 days. This can decrease the effectiveness of surgery and increase the chances of your symptoms to return. 

However, the Propel Sinus Stent is an advanced technology that is clinically proven to reduce post-surgical inflammation and scarring and enhance surgical outcomes for chronic sinusitis sufferers like you. When placed in the sinus following surgery, Propel decreases scarring and inflammation to reduce the need for more surgery, oral steroids, and potential side effects. 

The Propel Sinus Stent is a spring-like device that keeps the ethmoid sinus clear to maintain the surgical opening, delivers an anti-inflammatory medication directly to the sinus lining, and then dissolves. The device gradually dissolves, so it's normal that you might experience thin, white fragments present in your nose. 

The Propel Sinus Stent is an implant that’s intended for use in patients age 18 and older after ethmoid sinus surgery to maintain the sinus opening. Propel Sinus Stent isn’t intended for use in people who are allergic to the drug mometasone furoate or to certain polymers. Safety and effectiveness of the implant in pregnant or nursing females have not been studied. Risks may include pain/pressure, movement of the implant (within or out of the sinus), and possible side effects of the drug. The most common side effects in clinical studies were infection, headache, and nosebleed. The Propel Sinus Stent is available by prescription only.

For more information on the risks and benefits of Propel, call Villa Rica Ear, Nose & Throat. The FDA-approved labeling can be found on the Propel website.

Post-Operative Care and Visits to the Doctor

Once you've received a Propel Sinus Stent, your post-operative care may include saline sinus irrigation (e.g., Neilmed Sinus Rinse, available at most pharmacies), oral antibiotics, and pain medicine. To achieve the best outcome, be sure to take all of your medication as directed by your doctor and pharmacist.

Additional instructions for post-operative Propel care include frequent sinus irrigations multiple times a day to aid the healing process.

Before each of your post-op visits, be sure to perform sinus irrigation immediately prior to the appointment. At the beginning of your appointment, please remind your doctor that you received Propel.*+

*NH Survey 2012. CDC National Center for Health Statistics. Series 10 number 260.

+Han JK, Marple BF, Smith TL et al. International Forum of Allergy Rhinologists, 2012; 2:271-279.