Nasal & Sinus Disorders

Difficulty breathing through your nose, sinus pain, nasal congestion or nasal drainage often create problems that distract you from living your best life. If your current nasal or sinus treatments no longer relieve your condition, reach out to the experts. Breathe easier – with help from nasal and sinus specialists at OU Health in Oklahoma City.

Experienced Care for Nasal & Sinus Disorders

When you choose OU Health to help you care for a nasal or sinus disorder, you and your primary care doctor join a team of ear, nose and throat (ENT) experts in otolaryngology, all with specialized training in rhinology, who work with you to develop an accurate diagnosis for your specific situation. You and your team also create an individualized treatment plan that may include medications, surgical or in-office procedures and implants, as well as ongoing management for all types of nasal and sinus conditions such as:

• Allergies

• Chronic sinusitis – Inflammation or infection of sinuses lasting more than three months

• Deviated septum

• Enlarged turbinates

• Fungal sinusitis

• Loss of smell

• Nasal congestion and drainage

• Nasal polyps

• Nasal or sinus mucocele – Mucus collection from obstructed sinus drainage

• Nasal obstruction – Difficulty breathing through the nose

• Nosebleeds

• Recurrent sinus infections – Four or more in a 12-month period

• Septal perforation – Hole in the septum of the nose

• Snoring

Get expert care management and treatment from OU Health ear, nose and throat specialists for more complex conditions, including:

• Cystic fibrosis – Genetic condition related to chronic sinusitis

• Tumors of the nose, sinuses and skull base, both cancerous and non-cancerous

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from the nose

• Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma – Hormone-sensitive benign tumor

• Sinus osteoma – Benign bone growth in the nose

• Inverted papilloma – Cells grow into underlying tissue

Diagnosing Nasal & Sinus Disorders

Relief from your nasal and sinus condition starts with an accurate diagnosis. At OU Health, you benefit from access to the latest diagnostic technology and procedures, such as:

• Allergy testing – Controlled series of skin pricks to identify allergens that may affect your condition

• MRI or CT scan imaging – Provide detailed views of nasal and sinus structures and help check for infection or other problems

• Nasal endoscopy – In-office procedure that gives your doctor a clearer view of your nasal and sinus passages

Nasal & Sinus Treatments

At OU Health, you’ll find the most advanced treatments for nasal and sinus conditions. Depending on your specific situation, you and your care team may select from options such as medication, in-office procedures or surgical treatments, including sinus revision surgery.

Biologics

If you live with nasal polyps or chronic sinusitis, your doctor may recommend certain biologics – new types of medications created from biological sources – to treat your condition. Medicines such as Dupixent® and Xolair®, part of this a new class of medications, can reduce the size of nasal polyps and help reduce congestion.

Non-Surgical Treatments

Based on the results of your diagnostic tests, you and your OU Health ENT care team will discuss the best treatment options for your specific condition, which may include a wide array of in-office procedures such as:

• Acclarent® TruDi™ balloon sinuplasty – Image-guided technique to relieve narrowing or obstruction of sinuses

• Sinuva® and Propel® – Steroid-eluting nasal implants with time-release anti-inflammatory medication that reduce symptoms of chronic sinusitis

• PolypVac® – Polyp removal for recurrence after previous sinus surgery

• ClariFix® – Cryoablation (freezing) of overstimulated nerves related to excessive nasal drainage (chronic runny nose); may combine procedure with other surgery

• Vivaer® – Nasal remodeling to clear away obstruction

• Latera® – Absorbable nasal implant to support upper and lower cartilage inside nose wall for relief of obstruction from nasal valve collapse

• Celon ProBreath® – Low-energy radiofrequency treatment to improve airflow and reduce obstruction from nasal turbinates (swollen spongy bones in nasal passages that can block breathing)

Surgical Treatments

Your condition may respond to surgery, especially if medical or minimally invasive options don’t adequately address your issues or if previous procedures need repair. At OU Health, you can take advantage of fellowship-trained ENT doctors with expertise in surgical revision and endoscopic (incisionless) surgical techniques such as:

• Revision endoscopic sinus surgery – Repairs function when previous surgeries have not improved your condition

• Endoscopic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak repair – Stops brain fluid leakage

• Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy – Creates a new tear drain to ease symptoms of blocked tear duct

• Endoscopic inferior turbinate reduction – Removes bone or mucous membrane to fix blockage caused by enlarged turbinates

• Endoscopic orbital decompression – Reduces bulging appearance of eyes caused by thyroid eye disease (Graves’ orbitopathy)

• Endoscopic removal of nasal, sinus and skull base tumors

• Endoscopic septal perforation repair – Adjusts cartilage of nasal septum (structure between nostrils)

• Endoscopic septoplasty – Straightens bone and cartilage dividing the space between nostrils

• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery – Restores sinus ventilation and normal function for recurrent or chronic sinus infections

• Image-guided surgery – Uses a tiny camera or digital-imaging technology to display nasal structures during a procedure

Related OU Health Services

Find relief from nasal and sinus conditions with comprehensive services from OU Health. Your ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists may coordinate care with other medical and healthcare experts to help manage related conditions such as allergies, pulmonary and respiratory issues and sleep disorders.

Your Expert Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Team

To address the full spectrum of nasal and sinus concerns, your OU Health ear, nose and throat care team may include specialists with fellowship training in rhinology, as well as extensive experience in a wide range of ENT conditions. You and your primary care doctor will work with a multidisciplinary team of OU Health experts who collaborate with you to develop an individualized treatment plan designed for your specific condition.