Shortness of breath is a common problem in people of all ages. Often its cause is the curvature of the nasal septum, which prevents air from entering the body. Unfortunately, it can only be corrected with surgery. Submucosal resection of the nasal septum is considered a safe operation that has a minimum of contraindications and complications. What is septoplasty ? Who should not do it? How much does it cost to fix the nasal septum? What reviews do patients leave after the procedure? Let's try to answer these questions in our article.
Indications for surgery
As a rule, the curvature of the nasal septum is not a reason for urgent surgical intervention. Some patients may live for years with a partial lack of normal breathing without going to a specialist for help. However, it is worth correcting the pathology immediately after its discovery. With age, the submucosal resection of the nasal septum is more difficult for the body to transfer due to a weakening of the cardiovascular system. There are also several serious indications, upon detection of which it is impossible to delay the operation. We list the main ones:
- partial or complete absence of air obstruction in the nasal passages due to their deformation or thickening;
- visual curvature of the tip of the nose;
- regular nosebleeds that occur for no apparent reason;
- correction of the consequences of a severe nose fracture ;
- frequent and prolonged otitis media and sinusitis;
- pathological snoring that prevents the patient from sleeping normally;
- deterioration of the tear duct due to a curved septum;
- resection is performed as a preliminary stage of the operation to open the frontal or nasal sinus, eliminate defects of the lacrimal sacs;
- the procedure is prescribed if it is necessary to pass an ear catheter through the patient’s nose to purge the Eustachian tube.
Contraindications
At the same time, the technique of submucosal resection of the nasal septum is not suitable for all patients. She has a number of contraindications, in which the operation can not be performed. They can not only reduce its results to zero, but also turn into serious consequences for the body. Doctors do not recommend choosing surgery for patients with the following limitations:
- chronic diseases of the heart, liver or kidneys that are in the acute stage;
- any diseases due to which the blood coagulation process is disturbed;
- acute infectious diseases;
- patient age: it is recommended to perform surgery for patients from 20 to 50 years old, however, in some cases, resection is also prescribed for children over 6 years old;
- malignant neoplasms of any stage;
- severe mental illness.
Preparation for surgery
Submucosal resection of the nasal septum is a serious surgical intervention that requires special preparation. To make sure that there are no contraindications in the patient, the doctor prescribes him a series of procedures. The patient should undergo fluorography, go to an appointment with an anesthetist and otolaryngologist, and also take blood and urine tests. It is necessary to find out the level of blood coagulability, and also to exclude the patient from the presence of diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, syphilis and tuberculosis. For the elderly, it is recommended to undergo a full examination of the cardiovascular system and liver.
A week before surgery, the patient should stop taking drugs that affect blood coagulation. 8 hours before the start of the procedure, it is forbidden to take even light food. Men should also shave their mustache or beard on their own so that hair from entering the wound does not provoke an infection.
How is the operation performed?
Depending on the complexity of the pathology, the operation is performed under local or general anesthesia. As a rule, the patient is laid on a couch and wiped his face with soapy water and alcohol. Submucosal resection of the nasal septum does not require any external incisions; therefore, there are no visible scars after surgery on the face. The whole procedure is carried out through the inside of the nose. It is lubricated with painkillers throughout the operation, for example, dicaine solution . The duration of the procedure usually depends on the degree of curvature of the nasal septum, but most often it takes no more than an hour.
The surgeon independently conducts the entire operation, sometimes resorting to the help of an assistant or a nurse. With special instruments, he performs a miniature incision inside the nose. Then he finds a pathological section of the septum and removes excess elements of cartilage and bone tissue. The doctor aligns the septum, placing it strictly in the center. Then, a small internal suture is applied to the incision site, and the nasal cavity is filled with tampons lubricated with anesthetic ointment. They also help to eliminate possible bleeding.
Laser correction of the nasal septum
Modern surgery of the nasal septum, the accesses and views of which previously provided for mandatory incisions and suturing, has stepped far forward. Patients can now choose laser resection, which is considered the least stressful procedure. Only local anesthesia is used, and the procedure itself takes only half an hour. In this case, the entire operation is carried out not with surgical instruments, but with a laser beam.
Painlessness is the main advantage of this method. The patient does not suffer from bleeding and discomfort when the sutures are overgrown. In addition, he can spend the rehabilitation period at home, and not in the hospital. A significant drawback is the high cost of the procedure, as well as its inefficiency in some pathologies of the nose.
Submucosal resection of the nasal septum: postoperative period
As a rule, the procedure does not require the patient to stay in the hospital for a long time. The very next day, a person is sent home, but he will have to return regularly for dressings within a week. Reviews note that the most unpleasant thing during rehabilitation is the need to constantly breathe through the mouth, as the nasal passages are blocked by tight tampons. It is recommended that patients exclude hot food and drinks from the diet, drink more mineral water, and also purchase hygienic lipstick to prevent lips from drying out. After the operation, it is necessary to limit heavy physical exertion.
Submucosal resection of the nasal septum is a quick operation, but the rehabilitation period after it can take several weeks. A strong pain medication is administered daily to the patient, due to which sometimes the body temperature rises slightly. People also complain of headaches and the appearance of severe tearing. A day later, the doctor removes tampons from the sinuses. After this, you can not blow your nose for several days, so as not to provoke bleeding. During the following receptions, the doctor cleanses the nasal passages, removes the resulting crusts and lubricates the mucous membrane with an anesthetic ointment. The patient needs to regularly inject saline into the nose. Vasoconstrictor drugs during this period, on the contrary, are strictly prohibited.
Estimated cost of operation
Another factor due to which patients hesitate to perform such a procedure as a submucosal resection of the nasal septum is the price. The Central Clinical Hospital of the RF UDP (Central Clinical Hospital) in Moscow, for example, offers septoplasty for about 50,000 rubles. In addition, you will have to pay the cost of anesthesia, preoperative research and hospitalization. However, it is possible to carry out the procedure cheaper in other medical institutions, where the price for a simple resection can be about 20,000 rubles. The operation will cost much more in private and plastic clinics of the capital. In them, as a rule, the amount can reach 150,000 rubles. True, it will include all the necessary examinations and services.
Possible complications after surgery
Submucosal resection of the nasal septum, the nuances of which are described in detail in this article, is not considered a dangerous procedure, therefore, the risk of complications is minimal. Most often, patients complain of bleeding and abscesses after surgery. However, with proper treatment, they can be quickly eliminated. Much less often, patients mention damage to nerve endings, loss of smell, or the appearance of scar adhesions on the nasal mucosa. Sometimes, surgery may be necessary to correct complications. To avoid unpleasant consequences, choose only a trusted clinic and a qualified doctor who has many positive recommendations.
Submucosal resection of the nasal septum: patient reviews
To finally decide on the operation, many patients seek to learn about the reviews of other people who have already done septoplasty . Most often, patients' opinions about this procedure are extremely positive. They note its effectiveness, as they no longer have to suffer from shortness of breath. After resection, there is no need to regularly use nasal drops. The whole procedure is carried out under local anesthesia and takes no more than an hour, which is also an advantage for patients.
According to users, a long recovery period is the main drawback of nasal septum resection. At this time, the nose, lower face and teeth can be very sore. Normal breathing does not appear immediately. Patients who experienced low-quality local anesthesia complained of unbearable pain during the operation itself.
To summarize
A submucosal resection of the nasal septum, the price of which fully justifies its effectiveness, is considered a common procedure shown for many diseases of the respiratory system. However, it should be carried out only in a quality clinic by a trusted surgeon in order to minimize the risk of possible complications. It is not necessary to do septoplasty in the presence of contraindications, because sometimes the consequences of resection can not only not improve the patient's condition, but also aggravate preoperative symptoms.