Is your Nasal Septum deviated?? Surgery required? When should you worry?

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"YOUR NASAL SEPTUM IS DEVIATED. YOU MAY NEED A SURGERY TO FIX IT. "

Has anyone of you faced such a comment from your Doctor? Or may be your relatives or friends? Let us discuss briefly about this condition.

Nasal septum is the hard part of your nose which forms a central partition between the two nasal cavities. It is made up of both bony parts and cartilaginous parts.

IT CAN BE PERFECTLY NORMAL TO HAVE A DEVIATED NASAL SEPTUM!!!

Yes. You read it right! A deviation of nasal septum can be normal as well. Do not keep an impression in your mind that nasal septum should always be precisely in midline. It can be deviated to right or left sometimes without causing any symptoms or troubles. 

SO HOW MUCH DEVIATION IS SIGNIFICANT?

To make it simple, I will say that any deviation of nasal septum causing any troublesome symptoms to a person is significant. 

WHAT SYMPTOMS?

Nasal block

Nasal bleeding (Usually if there is spur along with deviation. Spur is a finger like projection from septum)

Headache, Sneezing, Rhinitis if there is associated sinusitis along with deviation.

HOW TO MANAGE?

Initially your Doctor will do a primary nasal examination followed by Nasal endoscopic examination. If necessary CT Scan may also be advised.

For symptomatic relief nasal sprays or drops along with tablets will be given initially. If no relief or if the deviation is gross, your Doctor might advise you surgery.

SURGERY? TO PANIC OR NOT?

Surgery (SEPTOPLASTY) can be done Endoscopically or Conventionally. Either ways there will not be any external scars. (Yes! You do not have to worry about a post operative scar). Whatever correction is required, will be done through the nasal opening itself. Only the most deviated part of the septum will be removed and corrected. Usually done under general anaesthesia. Surgery will be over within 1-2 hours.

AFTER SURGERY? HOW IS LIFE? WHAT TO TAKE CARE?

Usually after the surgery both the nostrils will be packed. So during the post operative period you will have to breathe through mouth. Usually the pack will be removed after 48-72 hours. After pack removal if there are no problems you will be discharged. After surgery, about 6 hours later you can start taking liquids. After further two hours, soft diet can be started. From next day regular diet can be taken. Once the pack removal is done, you can breathe better through the nose. Your nasal blockage problem would have significantly reduced. However if you have any other underlying condition associated like Allergic rhinitis, you may have to take medications for certain time even after surgery.

Life of course will be better than before. You can have a relatively symptom free life if surgery is completely successful.

Take care not to miss your regular review visits with your Doctor even after surgery. During review your Doctor will do nasal examination under headlight or via endoscopy to ensure that everything is fine. Depending upon the status your Doctor may or may not prescribe any topical or oral medications.  

Note: If you have severe septal deviation with external deformity, for correction you may need major surgery called Rhinoplasty. Here external incision will be kept and entire abnormal framework of nose will be corrected. 

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Hi friends. In this blog, you will find some interesting articles related to Ear, nose and throat diseases. Do share if found useful. Thankyou.

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