Purpose of review: Sinus surgery tools are constantly being developed. This review will focus on new devices (popularly called sinuplasty) for use in ostial dilation.
Recent findings: Balloons for sinus ostial dilation are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and are used worldwide. There have been presentations, publications and discussions concerning these devices. One large level-2 evidence study has demonstrated these devices to be well tolerated and reliable.
Summary: Sinuplasty may represent an exciting and minimally invasive set of devices. They may also represent a premature attempt to transfer dilation into otolaryngology. The emerging data suggest the first statement, with excellent outcomes. More long-term data could still prove the second statement correct. Research and development will make these devices a 'hot topic' in sinus surgery for 2007-2008.