Dr GVK Chaitanya Rao

 This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao, a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. Balloon Sinuplasty is an endoscopic surgical technique where a small, flexible balloon catheter is used to open up blocked sinus passages thereby facilitating the drainage of the mucus built-up. Balloon Sinuplasty is often used in cases of severe rhinosinusitis and has revolutionized sinus surgery as it is highly efficient and also cost-effective. The first Balloon Sinuplasty was carried out in the US in 2004, and in just a few years the total number of patients treated this way reached 30,000. The reasons for such a quick expansion are simple — it works, it’s safe, and the technology is widely available (and affordable!). We will jump into the details of this kind of surgery later, but for now, let’s just say that a surgeon uses sophisticated instruments with inflatable...

This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao, a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. We often get this question from patients - why do I need an MRI for sinusitis? MRI is often associated with more serious health conditions and is perceived as an expensive diagnostic tool leading to this confusion. We will attempt to throw light on this topic and clear any misunderstandings about the application of MRI for Sinusitis. MRI technology has pushed the standards of diagnostics up by a few bars. Up to this day, MRI is the imaging modality that provides the most information about patients' inner anatomical relations. Using unique presets and intravenous contrast, doctors can reconstruct - in 2D & 3D - all structures inside the body. All the data gathered can be later used in computer-assisted surgery. By detecting not only anatomical features of organs but al...

  This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao, a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. Depending on whether your Sinusitis is acute or chronic in nature, your doctor would typically start off with a medicine course. If the sinus infection is caused by bacteria or allergies, you might be prescribed the appropriate medicines and as discussed in detail in this article, your doctor might prescribe a combination of painkillers, decongestants along with some home remedies to soothe your sinuses. In case of acute sinusitis, your sinuses may clear up on their own but there are cases when your Sinus specialist would recommend surgery. When does your doctor recommend surgery? Sinusitis surgery helps drain your sinuses and prevent infection from building up, or clear infection that has built up. The surgery generally involves making the sinuses openings bigger using...

This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao, a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. Importance of keeping the mucosa healthy Sinus cavity self-cleaning system An important layer called mucosa lines the entire Sinus cavity. The complex structure of this layer acts as a self-cleaning system, enabling sinuses to remove foreign particles and pathogens from the Sinus cavity. Two main components of this system are responsible for normal Sinus drainage. Mucosa contains cells that produce mucus that acts as a barrier in which the particles (including allergens) and infective microorganisms remain trapped. Sticky mucus is also beneficial as it moistens and warms the air within the sinus cavities, keeping the mucosal cells lubricated and fully functional. Tiny hairs called cilia, located on the surface of some mucosal cells, are constantly working to eliminate the muc...

This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao, a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. Advancements in Sinus Surgery Technological advancements and continuous R&D in the field of medical science paved the way for new therapeutic surgical solutions characterized by increased effectiveness and substantially favorable safety profiles. Minimally invasive surgery is a good example of a contemporary, state-of-the-art surgical technique that strives towards enhanced precision and safer surgical management of a diverse set of Sinus pathologies. Endoscopic sinus surgery emerged as a technique in the late 20th century. The new method brought a revolution in the management of recurrent and chronic forms of Sinusitis. The minimally invasive nature of Endoscopic sinus surgery allows faster recovery, less bleeding and scarring following the procedure. The key objective o...

This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao, a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. If there is one thing all surgeons are afraid of while performing surgery it is sudden and uncontrollable bleeding. Any kind of bleeding, actually. Among them (particularly for ENT surgeons!), one of the parameters of individual skill and technique is the amount of blood a patient loses during surgery. Of course, things are not that simple, there are a lot more factors that define a surgeon’s skill, but a tendency to trigger massive bleeding is definitely something any surgeon wouldn’t be proud of. Blood is essential for life. The problem is, it supports all kinds of life – it is an exceptional breeding ground for several microorganisms. This is important because infections are more likely to develop as a complication of surgery if there is a significant amount of blood in th...

This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao , a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years of experience in the field of ENT. What is Balloon Sinuplasty? Balloon sinuplasty is a type of endoscopic sinus surgery. A balloon catheter is used to dilate the sinus drainage doorways. Balloon sinuplasty was designed based on an angioplasty heart procedure where balloons are used to dilate blocked blood vessels. Balloon sinuplasty is one of the mucosal preservation surgeries approved by the US FDA in 2005 for use in the nose and sinuses. It is a relatively new surgery. The nasal mucosal lining has millions of microscopic hair-like cilia which beat in one direction. This mechanism helps in clearing the mucous produced in the nose and sinuses, pushing mucus to the back of the nose. This mucosal lining is damaged or removed during conventional nose and sinus surgery, leading to loss of natural mucous drainage m...

This article was first published at SinusDoctor by Dr.G V K Chaitanya Rao , a member of American Rhinologic Society (ARS) and European Rhinologic Society (ERS), and has 10+ years experience in the field of ENT. What is DNS or Deviated nasal septum? A thin partition wall between the right and the left nostril is known as the nasal septum. When this partition wall is displaced or bent to one side (sometimes both sides), it is known as deviated nasal septum or DNS. Mild displacement or deviation is standard and does not produce any symptoms. Occasionally, patients can observe deviation themselves in the mirror by simply lifting the tip of the nose with fingers. Causes for DNS or Deviated nasal septum? Nasal septum deviation can appear from birth, and it can bend as the person grows older. Birth trauma, injury to the nose while playing contact sports or injury to the nose in an accident can also cause a deviated nasal septum. One more reason for us to wear a helmet while playing contact sp...