Septoplasty, is a surgical procedure for a deviated septum. This procedure is required as the patient is likely to experience serious breathing complications. This operation is sought to increase air passage and eradicate symptoms, including post-nasal drip, snoring, and recurrent sinus infections. Usually carried out by ENT specialists, septoplasty is a surgery that significantly improves the quality of life of patients experiencing problems with the nasal passage. Breathing is promoted through this procedure, and sleep and overall health are facilitated hence, this intervention is essential for anybody with nasal structural abnormalities.
What is Septoplasty?
Septoplasty, aptly known as nasal surgery, aims to correct the position of the ‘septum’, the strip of bone and cartilage located in the middle of the nasal passage. The wall of cartilage located in the nostrils is labelled septum. Any deviation of the septum to the left or right is called the deviated septum.
During septoplasty, the septum is fixed to the middle of the nose. To do this, the surgeon may need to cut and remove parts of the septum first. Then, these parts might be placed back into the nose in a corrected position.
Septoplasty procedure
Before
- Consultation: The patient meets with the surgeon to discuss their symptoms, medical history, and what they hope to achieve with the surgery. This helps the surgeon to plan the procedure.
- Pre-surgery Instructions: The patient receives specific instructions about what to eat and drink before surgery, which medications to take or avoid, and other preparations to ensure a smooth procedure.
- Preparation: The patient needs to arrange transportation, as they cannot drive after the surgery due to the effects of anaesthesia.
During
- Anaesthesia: The patient is given anaesthesia to prevent discomfort or pain during the procedure. This can be local anaesthesia to numb the nose or general anaesthesia to make the patient sleep during surgery.
- Surgery: The surgeon makes an incision inside the nose to access the nasal septum. They then straighten the septum and remove any obstruction that blocks airflow.
- Completion: After adjusting the septum, the surgeon closes the incision with stitches. Sometimes, splints are placed inside the nose to help support the septum as it heals.
After
- Recovery: The patient needs to rest and carefully follow the surgeon’s instructions for home care, including managing swelling and discomfort.
- Follow-up: The patient attends follow-up appointments with the surgeon to ensure the nose is healing properly and to address any concerns.
- Healing: To prevent complications, the patient should avoid strenuous activities and be gentle with their nose during the recovery period.
- Results: It may take several weeks for the patient to fully experience the benefits of the surgery, such as easier breathing and reduced nasal congestion.
Risks
As with any major surgery, septoplasty has risks. These include bleeding, infection, and bad reactions to anaesthesia, which is the medicine used to numb pain during the operation.
Specific risks of septoplasty are:
- Ongoing symptoms, like blocked airflow through the nose.
- Serious bleeding.
- Changes in the shape of the nose.
- A hole in the septum.
- Reduced sense of smell.
- Blood clots in the nasal area that need to be drained.
- Temporary loss of feeling in the upper gum, teeth, or nose.
- Poor healing of surgical cuts.
If the desired results aren’t achieved, additional surgery might be needed to address some of these problems. Before the procedure, it is important to discuss personal risks with the surgeon.
How to take care of yourself after septoplasty?
Initial healing
Healing from septoplasty usually takes one week. The ENT surgeon will give specific instructions to follow. Here are some general guidelines to help you recover comfortably and quickly.
Activity level
- Rest: Rest at home for a few days after surgery.
- Light activities: You can do light activities after one week if you feel okay.
- Avoid strenuous activity: Don’t exercise heavily, swim, or play contact sports for one month.
- Nose care: Don’t blow the nose and sneeze with the mouth open for the first week.
- Splints care: If you have splints in your nostrils, keep them dry in the shower, but rinse with saline. The ENT specialist will remove them in about a week. If you don’t have splints, you can shower the day after surgery.
Surgical dressing
- Gauze pack: Your surgeon will put gauze pack in your nose after the surgery and keep it there, remove it usually after 48 hours.
- Excessive bleeding: If you face excessive bleeding while pack in the nose, visit the ENT specialist.
Fever
- Low fever: Take acetaminophen for a low-grade fever (101°F or less).
- High fever: If the fever is over 102°F or lasts more than two days, call the ENT doctor in Delhi or wherever you reside.
Keeping the surgical site clean
- Saline rinse: Rinse the inside of the nose with saline as instructed by the doctor.
- Cleaning crusts: If you get crusting around your nostrils, clean the crust with a moist cotton swab, but don’t insert the swab into your nostrils.
Septoplasty is a minor and easy surgery that offers major benefits for many people. It can open your nasal passages and improve your breathing. While septoplasty is a common procedure, it might not be right for everyone.