Dr Paulose

Septoplasty Surgery in Jubilee Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.

Nasal obstruction is one of the most common problems that bring patients into ENT clinics, and septal deviation is the cause. As a result, surgical correction of septal deviation is one of the most common ENT Surgeries done anywhere in the world by ENT surgeons.

The nasal septum separates one side of the nose from the other. It is composed of bone, cartilage, and the overlying soft tissues such as the lining of the nose. It supports the nose and directs airflow. The septum is made of thin bone in the back and cartilage in the front. A deviated septum occurs when the cartilage or bone is not straight. A crooked septum can make breathing difficult. The condition also can lead to snoring and sleep apnea.

The septum can bend to one side or another as a part of normal growth during childhood and puberty. Also, the septum can be deviated at birth (congenital) or because of an injury, such as a broken nose. Very few people have a perfectly straight septum.

Surgery to straighten the septum is called septoplasty, sub mucous resection of the septum, or septal reconstruction. The surgery may be done along with other procedures to treat chronic sinusitis, inflammation, or bleeding, or to correct sleep apnea. Septoplasty also may be done to allow access into the nose to remove nasal polyps. In general, septoplasty is needed only when breathing problems or snoring does not get better without surgery. For more information on surgery to treat chronic sinusitis, see the topic Sinusitis.

The septum and nasal passages are lined with a layer of soft tissue called the nasal mucosa. To repair the septum, the surgeon works through the nostrils, making an incision to separate the mucosa from the underlying cartilage and bone. The doctor trims or straightens the bent cartilage and then replaces the mucosa over the cartilage and bone

Most patients receive general anesthesia before septoplasty. This will make you asleep and pain-free. Some people have the surgery under local anesthesia, which numbs the area to block pain. You will stay awake if you have local anesthesia. Surgery takes about 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Your surgeon will make a cut inside the wall on one side of your nose.

and The mucus membrane that covers the wall will be lifted up.

and Then your surgeon will remove or move any cartilage or bone that is causing the blockage in the area.

and After this, your surgeon will put the mucus membrane back in place. This membrane will be held in place by stitches, splints, or packing material.

Splints or packs are placed in the nose for a few days, this helps prevent bleeding from the nostrils , the splints keeps the septum straight while it heals.

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