Pediatric Balloon Sinuplasty: Our Institutional Experience

Introduction Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the pediatric population is multifactorial condition that significantly affects quality of life, leading to recurrent infections, nasal obstruction, sleep disturbances, and school absenteeism. Balloon sinuplasty has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative.However, its application in the pediatric population, particularly in the Indian context, remains underreported. Material and methods Aim To evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety profile of balloon sinuplasty in pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis unresponsive to prolonged medical management. A prospective observational study was conducted over a 24-month period from 15 January 2023 to 15 January 2025 in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Fifteen pediatric patients (aged 6 to 18 years) diagnosed with CRS, who failed to respond to at least 12 weeks of optimized medical therapy, were enrolled. All patients underwent balloon sinuplasty targeting the maxillary sinus ostia under general anesthesia. A total of 24 maxillary sinuses were dilated. Postoperative follow-up was conducted for 6 months, assessing symptom resolution using the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22), SN-5 Score, endoscopic evaluation for ostial patency, Lund Mac Kay CT Scan Score and monitoring for complications. Results Ostial Patency: At 6-month follow-up, 22 out of 24 treated sinuses (92%) remained patent.Symptom Improvement: The mean SNOT-22 score significantly improved from average 43 preoperatively to average 4 postoperatively. Conclusion BSP is a safe, minimally invasive surgical option for managing pediatric CRS, especially in the 12–18 year age group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective Indian study evaluating balloon sinuplasty in the pediatric population.