Patients in the UAE increasingly exploring surgical options for treatment of Sinusitis
With the number of UAE residents suffering from allergic or inherited sinusitis increasing yearly, improvements in the management and treatment of the condition are a welcome relief to many sufferers. In the US, it has been estimated that over 30 million Americans are affected by sinusitis annually which means that approximately 10-15% of the population is affected by sinusitis. Extrapolated results would indicate that the figure in the UAE could be as high as 826,000 based on a UAE population estimates.
Recent results from the 2012 multinational landmark Allergies in the Middle East (AIME) survey of over 500 adults indicate that symptoms of sinusitis can be severe enough to impair work performance and diminish quality of life.
For the 9th year running, the Middle East Update in Otolaryngology Exhibition & Conference (Head and Neck Surgery) will host more than 120 internally renowned speakers who will focus on the most recent advances in the field of ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders, including the management of sinusitis.
According to Dr. Parul Goyal, who is Assistant Professor at SUNY Upstate Medical University, USA, and speaker at the upcoming conference,“There are many different contributors to sinusitis which include allergy, infection, climate, environmental factors (including dust and sand prevalent in the Middle East) , inherited disorders (such as cystic fibrosis), and structural blockage of the sinuses.”
For some patients, he warns, symptoms can become very severe. “Some patients deal with their symptoms on a daily basis for years before they find relief. Overall, patients can have very significant impairment of their quality of life. For most sinus related conditions, the problems should be evaluated when patients feel that their quality of life is being affected by their ongoing symptoms. In addition, patients who have visual problems, heavy nasal bleeding or other concerning findings should be evaluated right away because these findings may indicate some other type of nasal problem (beyond simple sinusitis).”
The management and treatment options for sinusitis have improved as our understanding of the disease has improved. Many patients can be treated with medications, while other patients may need surgery.
“Some of the biggest advances have been related to the use of endoscopes for surgery of the sinuses,” said Dr Goyal. “Endoscopic surgery allows surgeons to perform sinus surgery without making any incisions on the outside of face or scalp. The entire surgery can be done by working through the inside of the nostrils. Many patients can go home the same day and can recover very quickly.”
Another significant advance has been that many tumours in the nose and close to the brain (skull base tumours) can also be removed through the nostrils using the same types of nasal endoscopes and instruments. Many Otolaryngologists and Neurosurgeons now work closely together to remove these types of tumours through the nose. “As you can imagine, this also makes recovery much easier for patients,” added Dr Goyal.
Taking place on 22-24 April 2012 at the Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, the Otolaryngology Exhibition & Conference is produced by Informa Exhibitions and accredited by the Cleveland Clinic. This CME event is supported by the UAE Ministry of Health and the Dubai Health Authority, and sponsored by Karl Storz, Medtronic and the American Hospital Dubai.
Running alongside the conference is an exhibition which showcases the latest technologies and product launches from manufacturers and distributors wishing to meet an influential body of senior otolaryngologists. Products such as hearing aids, laser machines, microsurgical instruments and sleep apnoea devices will be on display.
For more information on the Otolaryngology Exhibition & Conference, please visit www.me-oto.com.