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Professor Esra Eryaman M.D
Ear, Nose & Throat / Head & Neck Surgery Specialist / Istanbul Florence Nightingale Hospital / Halic University Medical Faculty
Nasal obstruction is the feeling of reduced air flow through the nostrils.The first and the most important function of the nose is the transmission of the inhaled air into the lungs by humidifying, heating and filtering it.
When this function is disturbed, people have difficulty in breathing through the nose and clinically; sleep problems, snoring, performance deficiency , lung and cardiac problems may start.
When there is a upper airway blockage within the nasal passage, the lungs work harder creating a more negative pressure to suck in air.
This results greater negative pressure in hypopharngeal upper airways(like soft palate) leading to collapse and obstruction. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) occur as a final result. So, functioning nose is very important indeed!!!!.
Breathing well is highly precious for quality of life .
Inside of the nose is examined by endoscopes, there is no need for computerized tomographies.
The main reason for the nasal obstruction is septum deviation. The septum is a thin piece, made up of cartilage and bone separating the left and the right side of the nasal cavity. It can be a congenital disorder or caused by trauma. Septoplasty is the name of the operation for correction of the deviation. The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis. This means that patients come in and go home the same day.
Turbinate hypertrophy is another reason for nasal obstruction. They are located bilaterally on both sides of the nasal cavity. The inferior turbinate is the largest and functionally most important turbinate.The turbinates direct the airflow inside the nasal cavity by humidifying, heating and filtering the inhaled air. Deviation of the nasal septum can lead to compensatory turbinate hypertrophy. Radio-frequency may be used to reduce the size. Turbinoplasty or partial turbinectomy are the surgical procedures.