Balloon Sinuplasty Is Revolutionary Procedure
By DR. DAVID MALIS // October 28, 2013
MEDICAL SERVICES SHOWCASE
(VIDEO: BalloonSinuplasty)
(Images For SpaceCoastDaily.com)
By Dr. David Malis Adult & Pediatric ENT
Minimally Invasive, Preserves Patient’s Tissues and Can Be Done In the Office
One of the great things about living in coastal Florida is our beautiful weather and the ability to enjoy outdoor activities year-round.
Unfortunately for those who suffer from allergies and sinus infections, the impact on quality-of-life can be significant.
Symptoms of sinusitis can include throbbing facial pain or headaches, drainage of discolored discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat, nasal congestion with difficulty breathing and sleeping, bad breath, irritability, fatigue, nausea, and loss or reduced sense of taste.
Historically, treatment for recurrent or chronic sinus infections has been limited to treatment with multiple medications or, if unsuccessful, traditional endoscopic sinus surgery.
Although traditional endoscopic sinus surgery, which was introduced to the United states in the mid 1980s, represents an improvement over previous sinus surgery techniques, it does require a trip to the operating room, general anesthesia, the removal of bone and tissue to open the blocked sinus passageways, and, although rare, potentially serious, life altering, surgical complications.
RESULTS HAVE BEEN GREAT
However, there is now an alternative. Introduced and approved by the FDA a couple of years ago, Balloon Sinuplasty is a revolutionary breakthrough procedure in the management of patients with sinus disease.
Similar to how angioplasty uses balloons to open blocked arteries in the heart, balloon sinuplasty uses catheter-based instruments to open blocked sinuses and is significantly less invasive than traditional endoscopic sinus surgery.
“I was the first in our community to introduce balloon sinuplasty to my patients and have been performing this procedure in children with great success since 2007,” said Dr. Malis.
“In fact, I have been so pleased with the outcomes and the advances in the technology, that even the adult parents of the children in my practice have asked me to utilize this technology to help alleviate their sinus symptoms. Unlike their young children –who do require sedation in the operating room – adults, young and old alike, are able to have this procedure performed in my office with simple numbing of their nose. The results have been great and the parents have been thrilled.”
In fact, the response from his adult patients has been so overwhelming, that Dr. Malis has expanded his practice from exclusively pediatrics to now treating the whole family.
“I have been honored by parents’ trust and confidence in me to take care of their children,” said Dr. Malis.
“It’s always been the principal philosophy of my practice that there’s nothing better than a happy healthy child. However, I have come to recognize that if mom or dad are not feeling well this can also adversely affect the family dynamic. It has been a gradual evolution for me to take care of the whole family…yes I am seeing kids from 2 to 102,” chuckled Dr. Malis.
MANY ADVANTAGES
Balloon sinuplasty offers many advantages over traditional endoscopic sinus surgery.
It is minimally invasive and preserves the patient’s tissues, it can be done in the office in about 20 minutes time (after the initial numbing of the patient’s nose), has negligible bleeding, a faster recovery with the patient returning to their normal activities immediately after the procedure, and does not limit future treatment options.
“If you think about it, today’s demands on our lives are, unfortunately, quite significant and most of us cannot afford time away from work or other duties to recover from surgery. With in-office balloon sinuplasty, my patients can, if they choose, return to work the same day without any limitations. Now that’s an advance in medicine,” Dr. Malis said.
Although balloon sinuplasty is not suitable for every patient, those with recurrent or chronic bacterial sinus infections, allergy-mediated sinus symptoms, and barometric sinusitis (sinus symptoms due to changes in ambient pressure often seen in pilots/flight crew and SCUBA divers) are ideal candidates for this procedure.
“As both a pilot and diver myself, I can really empathize with those folks with baro-sinus symptoms and am glad there’s now something minimally invasive that can help them.”
Dr. Malis was also quick to point out that, although balloon sinuplasty will not cure allergies and that patients will still need to take their medications, the procedure should make the medical management of their symptoms much more effective.
ABOUT DR. MALIS
Dr. David J. Malis received his undergraduate training at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and his medical doctorate from The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He then entered active duty in the US Army and received his Residency training in Otolaryngology at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas; this was followed by Fellowship training in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital & Health Center, San Diego, California.
Dr. Malis served over 15 years on active duty in the US Army with assignments at Ft. Lewis (Washington), Ft. Sam Houston (Texas), and Ft. Hood (Texas), and held positions of progressing clinical and administrative responsibilities culminating in his last duty assignment as Chief, Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Service and Chief, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. Amongst his most significant contributions while on active duty, in addition to being the first Brigade Surgeon for the 199th Infantry Brigade (Separate) (Motorized), Dr. Malis lead eight humanitarian surgical missions to Honduras, performing complex ear surgery on over 450 patients.
Dr. Malis is Board Certified in Otolaryngology and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP); additionally, he is an active member of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO), the Society for Ear, Nose, Throat Advances in Children (SENTAC), and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (AAOHNS). Dr. Malis is Brevard and Indian River County’s only Fellowship-trained Pediatric Otolaryngologist.
Dr. Malis, originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the father of four children (two girls and twin boys). He enjoys an active lifestyle that includes flying powered paragliders, SCUBA diving, running, cycling, and traveling.
SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Now Serving Kids of All Ages—From 2 Through 102!
From Sinus Infections to Snoring, Get You and Your Child the Best Possible Care.
Dr. Malis not only provides specialized treatment for complex ear, nose and throat/head and neck conditions, he has introduced advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures to the Space Coast.
» In-Office Balloon Sinuplasty™
» Minimally Invasive Reflux testing
» Coblation® Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy
Dr. Malis’ field of specialty and expertise encompasses treating conditions in infants, children, and adults including, but not limited to:
- Ear Infections (Otitis Media)
- Snoring/Enlarged Tonsils
- Nasal Obstruction
- Hearing Loss
- Tongue Tie
- Nosebleeds (Epistaxis)
- Cholesteatoma
- Facial Nerve Injuries/Paralysis
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
- Sinus Infections (Sinusitis)
- Tonsil Infections (Tonsilitis)
- Breathing Difficulties/Airway Abnormalities
- Hoarseness
- Head and Neck Mass/Tumors
- Abnormal Voice/Speech
- Chronic Ear Problems
- Vocal Cord Paralysis
- Traumatic Injuries to the Head and Neck
Dr. Malis performs surgeries in infants, children, and adults including, but not limited to:
- Ear Tubes
- Tonsillectomy/Adenoidectomy
- Mastoidectomy
- Removal of Neck Mass/Tumors
- Repair Face and Neck Injuries
- Otoplasty Sinus Surgery
- Balloon Sinuplasty™
- Repair Ear Drums (Tympanoplasty)
- Airway Evaluation: Laryngoscopy/Bronchoscopy
- Airway Repair: Laryngotracheoplasty
- Vocal Cord Surgery (including Laser)
- Removal of Foreign Bodies
Dr. Malis treats hearing loss & related conditions in infants, children, and adults including, but not limited to:
- Otitis Media (ear infections)
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Congenital Hearing Loss
- Progressive Hearing Loss
- Genetic Disorders
- Noise Induced Hearing Loss Conductive Hearing Loss
- Neurosensory (nerve) Hearing Loss
- Tinnitus
- Central Auditory Processing Disorder
- Vertigo/Dizziness
Dr. Malis evaluates and treats medically complex & special needs children including, but not limited to:
- Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21)
- Attention Deficit Disorders
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Delay
- Learning Disorders
- Syndromic/Genetic Disorders
- Cleft Lip/Palate
- Speech/Language and Articulation Disorders
