Certain patients suffer from chronic nasal obstruction which is an abnormal
growth (hypertrophy) in the inferior nasal turbinate due to which the
nose is congested on one side of the nose for some time and the other
side of nose during some other time.
If the patient has difficulty in breathing due to it and if the medical
treatments such as nasal steroid spray fails, then septoplasty turbinate
surgery is recommended by the Doctor. Septoplasty or the deviated septum
surgery is combined with the turbinate reduction surgery so that the septoplasty
turbinate surgery restores the normal nasal airway and helps the patient
to breathe freely.
Procedure
for Septoplasty Turbinate Surgery
Septoplasty Turbinate Surgery is done in the operation theatre after giving
anesthesia. The surgery is done through the nostrils. To reduce the turbinate,
an incision is made in its lining mucosa and the tissue inside the turbinate
is made thinner. The tissues can also be made thinner by cauterizing it
with radio frequency or electric current. Then the air flow space between
the turbinate and the septum is increased by pushing the turbinate outside.
Once the turbinate reduction surgery is over, septoplasty is done to straighten
the nasal septum. Mucosa covers the septal bone and cartilages. This mucosa
is lifted through an incision made in the nostril so that the bone and
cartilage is visible to enable repairing or removing the deviated part.
The surgery is completed by stitching and closing the incision after returning
mucosa to its original position.
Complications
in Septoplasty Turbinate Surgery
Nose deformation (collapsed septum), bleeding & hole in the septum
(perforated septum) might occur in this surgery due to removal of excess
tissue. The breathing air cannot be humidified or made warm if excess
tissue is removed in turbinate reduction. This will result in a painful
dry and crusty nose permanently. Loss of smell sensing, front teeth numbness,
reshaping to deviation, chronic nasal inflammation are also possible.
In powered septoplasty turbinate surgery using microdebrider, the complication
is less.
Recovery
and Precautions after Septoplasty Turbinate Surgery
This is a minimally invasive surgery consuming only few hours so that
the patient can go home on the same day after the patient woke up from
anesthesia effect. A small amount of blood-tinged drainage will be there
for about 14 days. Swelling of tissues, congestion feeling etc. will be
there temporarily. As a precautionary measure, the activities like sniff,
aerobics, strain, flight travel, jog, bend, swimming, driving, consuming
alcohol or pain medicine in empty stomach, smoking etc. should be avoided.
The patient should take regular diet with lot of liquids.
Benefits
of Septoplasty Turbinate Surgery
The sinus infection is reduced and the patient breathes freely. The normal
function of the nasal turbinate is restored as only the abnormal enlargement
of the turbinate is reduced and not fully. The post nasal drip, headache,
sleeping disorders like snore, sleep apnea and nasal drainage is reduced.
