The PROPEL Stent Arrives
Feb 20, 2017
I have been writing about the PROPEL sinus stent for some time. This clever medical device fills a niche that was sorely needed in the world of otolaryngology, providing sinus surgeons such as myself with a powerful tool to help prevent the collapse...
I have been writing about the PROPEL sinus stent for some time. This clever medical device fills a niche that was sorely needed in the world of otolaryngology, providing sinus surgeons such as myself with a powerful tool to help prevent the collapse of nasal cavities following endoscopic sinus surgery.
Why is this necessary? Because as much progress as we have made in sinus surgery, using ever more precise tools to ablate and sculpt the tissues inside your sinuses, the human body has its own compensatory healing mechanisms which can sometimes interfere to re-close airways after the surgery is finished. Inflammation and scar tissue can create ongoing issues, which is why some people experience relief that is sadly short-lived, and eventually require revision sinus surgery later on.
The PROPEL sinus stent offers two ways to solve this problem. The first is mechanical: because the stent is a springlike structure, it creates a steady but effective outward pressure on the walls of your sinuses, somewhat akin to the positive air pressure provided by a CPAP device. This outward pressure prevents the tissues from collapsing and holds them in place so that they can heal properly.
The thing the PROPEL stent does is medical: the stent is coated with a corticosteroid known as mometasone furoate, which offers “anti-inflammatory, antipruritic, and vasoconstrictive properties” – basically a full suite of healing helpers to accelerate the process of strengthening and fortifying the tissues in your mucosa.
The data has been encouraging as sinus surgeons like me deploy the device within a growing cohort of patients. Now the FDA has taken notice, announcing that PROPEL is fully approved “for the treatment of patients with chronic sinusitis in the frontal and maxillary sinuses to improve outcomes following sinus surgery.”
The PROPEL stent is just one of the any tools we employ at the Los Angeles Sinus Institute to give our patients the best possible outcomes for sinus symptoms such as enlarged turbinates, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and deviated septums. To schedule an appointment with the best sinus surgery team in LA, start here.