sinus specialties

sinus infections

Most people average 1.3-2 upper respiratory infections per year. Averaging more may be an indicator of a predisposed condition for sinusitis. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the membrane lining within any set of sinuses, typically located in one of the paranasal sinuses. Paranasal sinuses include those behind the cheekbones and eyebrows.

Symptoms of sinusitis may include nasal obstruction, pressure or pain in the facial region or teeth, especially when bending down, postnasal discharge, persistent coughing or throat irritation, decreased sense of smell/taste, and ear pressure. Generally speaking, people suffer from acute episodes of sinusitis, which either clear up on their own or are treated successfully.

Chronic sinusitis is characterized by at least four recurring episodes of acute sinusitis in a 12 month period, despite treatment attempts. Symptoms of this include having difficulty breathing through your nose, having a throbbing facial pain or headache, or feeling swollen in the areas around your eyes and face.

allergic rhinitis

Allergies are often to blame for sinus problems, as they tend to be hereditary. Allergic rhinitis refers to symptoms people experience when they breathe in something they are allergic to. Common allergies include animal dander, dust, mold and pollen.

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include itchy, watery eyes, throat irritation, runny nose, sneezing, stuffy nose, congestion, headache, and clogged ears, among others.

deviated septum

When the thin wall between your nostrils is displaced, it causes one nasal passage to become smaller than the other. A deviated septum can reduce airflow, cause difficulty breathing, obstruct breathing completely or, in some cases, contribute to bleeding.

diagnoses

Treating sinus conditions properly begins with determining the cause. We evaluate your situation to create a treatment plan that we believe is best.

Reasons why both acute and chronic sinusitis occur are varied. Sometimes the sinuses become inflamed from allergies or minor immune deficiencies. Not everyone is aware of natural substances in their environment that may affect their health negatively, so we provide allergy testing.

Many times viral or bacterial infections are to blame, but it is difficult to tell the difference between the two. Chronic sinus infections can cause inflammation and swelling for extended periods of time. They are sometimes due to hidden causes, such as growths or anatomically narrow sinuses.

If we don't find a cause during a routine physical exam, we can perform a nasal endoscopy to examine interior surfaces of the sinuses. This procedure is rarely painful, but to prevent any discomfort, we apply topical anesthetic to temporarily numb the area.

treatments

Antibiotic therapy is used in some cases where sinus infections don't go away on their own. Nasal decongestants may be used in addition to antibiotics in some cases.

If allergic rhinitis is a constant problem for you, we can conduct an allergy test to determine what allergens cause you harm. One way to cure this is to avoid the allergen altogether. Many times this is impossible, so taking an antihistamine regularly may help to treat the symptoms. Allergy shots are an option when other treatments have failed.

When the first piece on Balloon Sinuplasty aired on NBC in 2009, the story went national. Sinus specialist (rhinologist), Ford Albritton, MD, FACS was the FIRST SURGEON in DALLAS and the second surgeon in all of Texas to perform Balloon Sinuplasty in 2006. With this news story, calls came in from across the country. Since that first case in early 2006, Dr. Albritton has established himself as one of the world's most experienced surgeons with Balloon Sinuplasty tools.

Dr. Albritton participated in several initial studies on Balloon sinus technology, serving as lead author on two scientific manuscripts. He was not only an early investigator in the emergence of new tools for sinus surgery, he has been a pioneer in the field of "interventional rhinology" and the use of minimally invasive tools and techniques to treat conditions of the sinuses and nasal breathing.

He has lectured on how to perform balloon sinus dilation in the office as well as the OR to surgeons from literally around the world including many of the ENT surgeons in DFW area. In the summer of 2013, he was asked to help surgeons in the UK as they adopt using balloon sinuplasty in the awake setting. He was the lead author in the seminal and first paper describing the use of transnasal approaches for balloon sinus dilations in an awake setting.

In June 2013, the Sinus & Respiratory Disease Center at the Texas Institute opened its doors in a beautiful 3700 sq foot open space within the Texas Institute for Surgery building on Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas campus. He and Dr. Goldsmith offer expertise in awake and operating theater based balloon sinus surgeries.

While many surgeons are electing to advertise in multiple media outlets professing expertise, Dr. Albritton is a Dallas sinus surgeon that is world recognized as an expert. Discriminating patients and surgeons who are not taken in by marketing methods and mass media exposure, turn to Dr. Albritton, Goldsmith, and their staffs to know they are being treated in the most advanced but most appropriate ways for the long term interest in their sinus problems.

This common condition causes the sinuses to become inflamed and swollen for long periods of time. If you suffer from chronic sinus infections, it may be difficult to breathe through your nose and your face may feel swollen. While it's most common among young and middle-aged adults, it also can affect children.

Chronic sinus infections may be caused by an infection, growths in the sinuses or a deviated nasal septum. We determine the cause for your conditions and chart the appropriate course of action.

Often occurring at night during times of snoring, blocked breathing can reduce blood oxygen levels causing the heart to pump harder. This condition may have a serious impact on your quality of life, work efficiency, and driving safety. Left untreated, it may also lead to hypertension, coronary artery disease, memory impairment, stroke, and adult onset diabetes.

We'll determine the cause of your blocked breathing and develop a treatment to help you breathe easier and sleep better.

When the thin wall between your nostrils is displaced—a deviated septum—it makes one nasal passage smaller than the other. A deviated septum can reduce airflow, cause difficulty breathing, obstruct breathing completely or, in some cases, contribute to crusting or bleeding.

Depending on the severity of your case, we can develop treatments that improve airflow or perform surgery to correct the issue.

The human sinuses are a complex and complicated system within your body. While often times a sinus condition can be managed or corrected through non-surgical methods, some issues require a surgical procedure. Some cases of chronic sinusitis, blocked tear ducts, trigeminal neuralgia, or nasal polyps are some examples.

We'll work closely with you to determine whether surgery is necessary. Many surgeries can be performed in-office in our advanced procedure room.

If you're experienced an allergic reaction to something, it's important to be tested. The severity of allergies can range from minor irritation to anaphylaxis—a potentially life-threatening emergency. Most allergies can't be cured, but we offer a number of treatment options that can help relieve your symptoms.

We use the latest testing methods to precisely identify your allergies enabling you to avoid contact with potentially harmful allergens.