Richmond Leader

• 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.

Chronic sinusitis is a condition that can affect anyone, and recently Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida underwent surgery to resolve his chronic sinusitis, which he has been suffering with for the last year.

Kishida had the surgery on Feb. 11, which was a Saturday -- and according to a report by AP News, he was able to return to work on Monday. Kishida had been treating his chronic sinusitis and polyps with medication, but he chose to have the surgery “in order to be in perfect health.” Over the past year, he had been showing symptoms of congestion and a stuffy nose, and while some members of the media saw it as the aftereffects of COVID-19, it turned out to be chronic sinusitis.

“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, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Sinusitis can not only have negative effects on peoples’ quality of life, but it can also be painful and cause discomfort.

Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers spoke about balloon sinuplasty and the benefits it has for people suffering from chronic sinusitis.

"Balloon sinuplasty came out in 2005,” Ditto told the Richmond Leader. “It is a fantastic new technique because what studies have shown is that it's as effective as traditional functional endoscopic sinus surgery. So I can perform a procedure for a patient and improve their recurrent sinusitis by using a minimally invasive technique, instead of taking them to the operating room under general anesthesia and performing a sinus, bone and membrane destruction procedure where you're removing things. Here I’m just opening things up, just allowing them to breathe.”

A balloon sinuplasty is a quick procedure that lasts about 10 to 15 minutes, with a short recovery time of about one or two days, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center. Most patients can get back to their normal routine quickly, despite some swelling for about a week. Another surgery called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) takes one to two hours and the recovery time is much longer, about four weeks, with the suggestion to avoid strenuous things like exercising.

According to NCBI, a study was done to compare patients who had FESS with those who decided on balloon sinuplasty to treat chronic sinusitis. While both procedures were effective, balloon sinuplasty patients needed fewer antibiotics after having the procedure. FESS involves removing sinus tissue, and balloon sinuplasty does not, making it “less traumatic” for the patient.

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