Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony - (Page 56)

Q&A Find out how to say goodbye to sinus infections, plus what to do when diagnosed with peripheral artery disease ASK The ExpErts Your Questions, Answered Q I’ve heard there is a minimally invasive procedure that, for some people, can replace traditional sinus surgery. What is it? And how well does it work? Q I’ve been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. Why is this problem serious? And what newer treatments are available? A recent but well-established technique known as balloon sinuplasty is proving very successful for some patients who suffer from chronic sinus infections. This is an endoscopic procedure, meaning it’s performed using a flexible, fiberoptic probe instead of an open incision. We thread the probe into the sinus passageway, then a tiny balloon at the tip—similar to that used to dilate heart vessels—is inflated to open the blocked passage. This dilation creates microfractures in the eggshell-thick bony structure surrounding the sinus cavity that allow the infection to drain without damage to the sinus lining. We also have the opportunity to irrigate the nasal passages at the same time. For patients who are good candidates, this procedure holds less risk than regular sinus surgery. I have found it particularly effective for many people who have a problem with fluid buildup in the frontal sinuses—above and behind the eyes. It is performed in a surgical setting with light sedation or general anesthesia. The procedure, itself, requires about half the time, and recovery, for most patients, is just a day or two. Christopher Mawn, M.D., FACS Aspen Ridge ENT aspenridgeENT.org 720-321-8410 Peripheral artery disease [PAD] affects as many as 20 percent of Americans over the age of 65. It generally occurs when arteries delivering blood flow to the legs are narrowed or blocked by a buildup of plaque composed of cholesterol and scar tissue. Some people with PAD experience few or no symptoms. For others, walking can cause severe pain known as intermittent claudication. The reason PAD is such a concern? It sharply increases one’s risk of heart attack, stroke and limb loss. If you have PAD, you may be able to reduce your risk through lifestyle changes or your vascular surgeon may suggest endovascular intervention or bypass. Endovascular interventions are minimally invasive treatments where a specialist uses real-time images to guide a thin catheter through an artery in the groin and to the blockage in the leg. A tiny balloon may be deployed to open the vessel, or a mesh tube called a stent may be placed to stabilize the walls. If this is not possible, a bypass procedure may be used to improve limb perfusion or blood flow. Scott Ziporin, M.D. Vascular and Endovascular Specialists of Colorado coloradovascularcare.org 720-321-8090 top photo by thinkstock christopher Mawn, M.D., FAcs scott Ziporin, M.D. 56 Vim & Vigor • W i n ter 2 012 http://www.coloradovascularcare.org http://www.aspenridgeENT.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Community Connections
The Speed of Life
Pinpoint Precision
Because I Said So!
What’s Wrong with This Picture?
The Future Is Now
Everyday Hero
What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
Johnny Be Good
In the Driver’s Seat
We’ve Got Your Back
Bank on Your Health
Virtual Health
Be a Proactive Patient
The Solitaire Strategy
Top Honors
By the Numbers
From the Foundation
Ask the Experts

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - St. Anthony