Grand Canyon Times

• The prime minister of Japan underwent sinus surgery on a Saturday and returned to work on Monday.
• He said the procedure went "smoothly" and thanked everyone for their "concerns and encouragement."
• A local doctor said that innovation has made sinus surgery faster and less invasive.

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, recently underwent sinus surgery in Tokyo to treat chronic sinusitis, which he had previously been managing with medication.

Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center said balloon sinuplasty is a quick, painless and minimally invasive procedure, especially compared to older sinus surgeries, and it helps return the sinuses to their normal function.

"One of the one of the biggest advances in our field has been the advent of something called balloon sinuplasty," Lee told the Grand Canyon Times. "And essentially it's a tool that we can use to help to permanently open up the sinuses, and that allows the sinuses to drain and allows us to get up in there and see if there is a chronic infection or mucus and get that stuff out."

According to AP News, Kishida had suffered from sinusitis symptoms for the past year, which he had treated with medication. However, he decided to have the surgery “in order to be in perfect health.” Throughout the last year, local media had sometimes commented on Kishida's stuffy nose and congestion. He had the procedure done on a Saturday and said he planned to return to work the following Monday.

“The surgery went smoothly, and I have returned to my official residence,” Kishida said, according to AP News. “Thank you very much, everyone, for your concerns and encouragement.” 

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, often causing a negative effect on a person's quality of life, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). NCBI conducted a study comparing patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with patients who opted for a balloon sinuplasty and found that, although both procedures are effective, balloon sinuplasty patients needed fewer antibiotic treatments after having the procedure.

FESS involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasties are "less traumatic," since they don't include removing any tissue and instead rely on dilation to improve sinus function. FESS procedures typically take 90 minutes to two hours, and patients might need up to four weeks to recover, during which time they should avoid strenuous activities such as exercise.

On the other hand, a balloon sinuplasty procedure lasts only 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities during that time, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center. Still, Lee said, the minimally invasive nature of the procedure leads to quicker healing.

"This finally allows us to permanently enlarge the drainage pathways to allow patients to function better in the future," Lee said. "The best part about it is that we're able to do these procedures in the office under local anesthesia. There's minimal downtime, so patients are really able to get a large amount of relief relatively quickly." 

If you're interested in learning more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.