Sinus & Snoring Specialists

Septoplasty is typically performed under IV sedation in our office. Local anesthesia is also used so that the patient is comfortable when they wake up. Using a 4mm telescope a 3mm incision is made inside the nose on the septum. The lining of the septum can easily be elevated off of the structure of the septum. The septum is made of fine bone and cartilage similar to an eggshell. This structure is then adjusted back to the midline. The septal lining is laid back on to the structure and sewn closed with one dissolvable suture. In our technique there is no packing, no splinting, and no material packed in to the nose.

Dr. Daniel Slaughter was intimately involved in the development of the original prototype for the sinus balloon used for Balloon Sinuplasty. He also helped perform the study that made this therapy FDA approved. He pioneered the use of IV sedation in the office setting for his patients providing a superior level of comfort. As an Entellus Center of Excellence trainer, Dr. Slaughter lectures nationally on the use of this technology in advanced cases including the ability to correct septal deviation, nasal polyps, turbinate swelling, and fungal sinus infections while performing Balloon Sinuplasty. ENT physicians travel from all over the country to learn how to incorporate his techniques. Balloon sinuplasty is a non-surgical procedure where a tiny sinus balloon is inserted in to the natural sinus outflow tracts. This balloon is then inflated to dilate this area. The balloon is then removed and the outflow tract is more capable of naturally draining. This procedure helps eliminate recurring sinus infections, chronic sinus infections, sinus headache and reduces congestion and snoring. At Sinus and Snoring Specialists we perform this procedure with the comfort and safety of IV sedation provided by a board certified anesthesiologist.

Allergy drops are a form of immunotherapy. They stimulate the patient’s immune system to develop antibodies to block the allergy reaction before it occurs. This form of therapy allows for the patient to have a significant reduction in allergy symptoms and require less allergy medicine. Unlike allergy shots they can be given safely at home, don’t require any needles, and are safer than allergy shot therapy. Allergy drops are formulated based upon skin testing in our office. The skin testing we use has no needles. Instead it is a plastic multi-pressure device which is dipped in the typical allergens and placed on the patient’s back. The results are read within 15 minutes. Positive reactions are used to formulate the appropriate allergy drops.

Allergy shots are a form of immunotherapy. Basically, the principle is to inject a small amount of what the patient is specifically allergic to in to their subcutaneous tissue. Allergy testing is used to determine what goes in the shot. Typically the shot is given once a week. Both Adults and Children can benefit from allergy shots. Normally, patients that are significantly symptomatic from their allergies and not responding adequately to routine standard allergy therapy are excellent candidates for immunotherapy.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where airflow through the upper airway stops periodically while sleeping. When this happens more than 5 times per hour it is classified as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, causing serious medical problems and daytime fatigue. Sleep apnea is caused by many factors and a thorough evaluation by an Ear, Nose, and Throat and Sleep Medicine Specialist is critical to identify the causes specific to each patient.

Pediatric balloon sinuplasty is a non-surgical procedure used to correct chronic sinus infection in children. Typically performed under IV sedation in the office setting this procedure allows Dr. Slaughter to open up the natural outflow tracts of the sinuses. Infection and allergy make the outflow tracts swell much more easily in the pediatric population as these openings are quite small as they undergo development. If the outflow tracts are left obstructed not only will antibiotics fail to resolve the infection but the sinuses are likely to fail to develop normally. This can lead to a lifetime of sinus issues in adulthood.

Many patients experience chronic congestion and a runny nose. This may be from allergies and should respond to allergy medicine or immunotherapy such as allergy drops or allergy shots. In some patients, these symptoms do not respond to allergy treatments and allergy testing is negative. These patients may have “vasomotor rhinitis”, a form of chronic rhinitis that is secondary to an overactive nerve in the nose. This nerve stimulates the lining of the nose to become congested, runny, and have post nasal drip. Patients that have these typical symptoms of chronic rhinitis and have not responded to traditional allergy treatments have had minimal options for therapy until now. The only other form of therapy has been a nasal spray called Atrovent which can be effective for some patients. This spray has to be used multiple times per day and it can cause dryness of the nasal lining. Now Clarifix® offers an elegant alternative. In this procedure, the Clarifix® balloon is placed inside the nose under endoscopic guidance in our office under IV sedation. This IV sedation provides the ultimate in patient comfort during the procedure. Dr. Slaughter then places the balloon on the nerve that causes the chronic rhinitis and it is rapidly cooled using nitrogen gas. This procedure takes about 3 minutes and is painless. This rapid cooling of the nerve diminishes it’s activity and has been proven in clinical studies to reduce the symptoms of chronic rhinitis especially the congestion and runny nose. There is no pain during the procedure and patients are able to go home within 30 minutes of the procedure.

Turbinates are the structures in the nose that filter and humidify the air we breathe. Sometimes they become too large secondary to allergies, sinus infection, or septal deviation. Turbinate reduction is a simple office procedure with the capability to shrink the turbinate back to a normal size to improve the patients breathing.

Nasal polyps are soft tissue growths that form in the nasal cavity and the sinuses. They typically from as a response to sinus infection, nasal allergy, or both. Polyps will start small which is called “polyploid degeneration” of the lining and may progress to be large visible masses that fill the nasal and sinus cavities.

UARS is a condition where the patient has significant snoring which actually disrupts the patient’s sleep quality. It tends to cause arousals from deep sleep to a lighter level of sleep. The patient lacks restorative sleep and feels tired during the day.

UPPP is short for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. It is a procedure that causes elevation and stiffening of the soft palate and reduction of the uvula. It is intended to reduce snoring and sleep apnea. Previously this was an aggressive surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia in the operating room. A large section of the soft palate was surgically resected along with the tonsils. This created severe pain and unpredictable healing with significant risks of complications. Dr. Slaughter has developed a minimally invasive technique that can be performed in the office. It is frequently combined with nasal procedures such as balloon sinuplasty to reduce or eliminate snoring and sleep apnea. In this procedure the elongated uvula is removed and a stiffening injection is placed above the uvula area. This injection is a special mixture of lidocaine and alcohol. It stimulates the patient’s soft palate to develop scar tissue while it elevates and stiffens over 9 weeks. There is discomfort for about 2 weeks but it is generally well tolerated with most patients being able to work, talk, and eat normally. The risk of any complication is dramatically reduced with this technique.

A hearing aid comes in three levels of sophistication. There are basic, mid-level, and high-end technologies available at different cost levels. Enhanced digital, programmable, self-regulating hearing aids with Bluetooth connection, smartphone control, and direct iPhone connection are an example of the technology that are now available. Hearing aids also come in many shapes and sizes. Small instruments are hidden in the canal, instruments that fill the visible ear, ones that fit behind the ear, along with other options. The right level of technology and cosmetic aspects are something that is personal as well as related to your type of hearing loss and eardrum issue. The detailed evaluation by Dr. Slaughter and William J. Boggess, M.S. in our office, is necessary to inform you of all of your options.

Dr. Slaughter performs Rhinoplasty nose surgery at his office in Austin, TX. The patient arrives 1 hour before the procedure for preparation. The patient undergoes IV sedation so they do not feel any pain during the procedure. A small incision at the base of the nose, between the nostrils, is made for Dr. Slaughter to access the structures of the nose. The specifics of the procedure vary from patient to patient but typically the nasal bones may be reshaped to reduce any “hump”. Any irregularities or lean of the bones is also corrected. The nasal tip may be reshaped to remove irregularities, prominence, or bulbous nature. The purpose is to create a nicely shaped nasal tip that is symmetric with the nasal bones. Nasal projection, rotation, balance are all addressed. Rhinoplasty is an art and Dr. Slaughter has more than 25 years of experience in this procedure. The small incision is closed with dissolvable suture and a small external splint is applied. There is no packing inside the nose and the patient will be able to breathe through their nose after the procedure. The procedure typically take about an hour and the patient is able to leave the office in about 30 minutes, with a friend or family driving them home.