Recovery after septoplasty and possible complications



Obstructed nasal breathing, snoring, bleeding, and often repeated nasal congestion or dryness in many cases is a result of a curved nasal septum.

The optimal, and often the only solution to this problem is septoplasty - an operation during which, by surgical intervention, excessive growths and curvatures of the cartilage and bone septums are removed in the nose.

ринопластикой . Septoplasty in some cases combined with rhinoplasty . Thus, during a single operation, not only the problem of difficulty breathing is solved, but also the shape of the nose is corrected.

Surgery on the nasal septum can be performed in two ways: endoscopic or laser.

• Laser septoplasty of the nasal septum is carried out, as follows from the very name of the procedure, with the help of specialized medical devices producing a laser beam. Such an operation lasts about half an hour, and after it ends, the patient can immediately go home without going through the hospital. In this case, a surgical intervention reduces the risk of infection of the affected tissues, both during the medical manipulations themselves and in the postoperative recovery period after septoplasty. This is due to the fact that during the incisions made in the tissue, when they come into contact with the laser beam, they coagulate, thereby sealing the entrance of the infection. Moreover, carrying out septoplasty with the help of a laser, due to the same blood clotting during the incision, is an excellent prophylactic agent of nosebleeds when recovering from septoplasty.
• Endoscopic septoplasty of the nasal septum lasts longer with respect to the previous method. On average, surgery takes 50 minutes, but in severe cases, if not only resection of small portions of the nasal septum is required, but also correction of the sinuses or removal of part of cartilage and bone fragments (for example, in case of severe injury), the surgery can be delayed by 1.5 -2 hours. An endoscope equipped with a camera is inserted into the nasal cavity. The doctor, watching the progress of the operation on the screen, can more fully correct her actions, significantly reducing the risk of accidental injury to the patient and thus not increasing recovery time after septoplasty.



And now, when numerous examinations and the very surgery in the past, the patient begins a period of recovery after septoplasty, which again can be divided into two parts:

• The postoperative period , in most cases, lasts up to three days. It begins on the operating table, when the patient is inserted into the nasal passages with rounds - tightly twisted gauze tampons. This is done in order to prevent the development of such complications as bleeding, and to stabilize the correct position of the nasal septum after surgery. In some cases, more often with laser septoplasty, nasal silicone splints are used instead of cotton-gauze tampons. After that, the patient is prescribed lax bed rest and discharge in 2-3 days. During the postoperative period, nasal breathing is impossible due to severe edema and the presence of tampons in the nasal passages. Patients have to breathe through their mouths, which causes certain inconveniences and complications, such as dry mouth, headaches and dizziness, weakness, high blood pressure, swelling of the nasopharynx. Many patients need painkillers. On the third day, focusing on the testimony, the patient must release the nasal passages from the tours placed in them.

  During the postoperative period the patient is strictly prohibited:

  1. Physical exercise.
  2. Hot shower and bath.
  3. The use of gas drinks.
  4. Reception of hot and very spicy food and drinks.
  5. Slopes.
  6. Sleep in any pose, except on the back.
• The recovery period after septoplasty generally takes up to three months. In the first week following the postoperative period, you should watch your nose as closely as possible. It is often necessary to moisturize the nasal cavity with saline or other prescribed drugs, lubricate with special ointments and remove blood clots and crust. Ten days after septoplasty, the nose still has an unusual, slightly edematous appearance, but the patient is allowed to go to work if it does not involve physical exertion, otherwise the work activity will have to be postponed for about a month. Nasal breathing is fully restored at about the end of the third week - it is at this time that the edema completely subsides. Restoring the sense of smell occurs a little later. But if it did not recover two months after septoplasty, then this is considered a postoperative complication, and its recovery may take several months.

Recovery after septoplasty should be accompanied by careful medical prescriptions and personal hygiene, as well as a rejection of alcohol and nicotine, dosing of physical exertion, refusal from visiting saunas, a bath and taking hot baths, as well as to protect the nose from possible physical effects and even the most minor injuries. .

It is important to remember that your physician is much more competent than the various reviews on the forums and contact him if you have any questions.

If these rules are not followed, the following complications may arise:

• Suppuration in the nasal cavity.
• Perforation of the nasal septum.
• Bleeding
• Pains
• Increased swelling.
• Problems in the restoration of the mucous.
• Problems in restoring the sense of smell.
• Changes in the shape of the nose.

Treatment and restoration of nasal breathing after septoplasty

Recovery of nasal breathing after septoplasty is, of course, the main reason that causes discomfort to any adult, and especially to a child. To resolve this problem as soon as possible - nasal congestion - it is necessary to follow the prescribed treatment after septoplasty.

After correcting the defect (curvature of the nasal septum) by correcting cartilage in an operable way, the problem arises of the impossibility of nasal breathing due to edema. In addition, crusts accumulate in the nasal cavity. If they are not removed in time, they lead to such diseases and consequences as nasal septum perforation due to suppuration and even sinusitis.

To prevent this, doctors prescribe antiviral drugs and various moisturizers in the form of sprays and drops, which need to irrigate the nasal passages every three hours for 2-3 weeks, until the edema passes, the nasal passages are not completely free, and as a result nasal breathing is not will be free.

It should be remembered that the use of vasoconstrictor drops after septoplasty is strictly prohibited during the year! The exception is when the use of the medicine is the only way to breathe fully, there were no complications after the operation, more than three months have passed since the operation and the patient is prescribed by the doctor.

Septoplasty with vasotomy to facilitate nasal breathing

In some cases, for example, in case of vasomotor rhinitis (when the mucous membrane of the nose is thickened excessively and often gives an edematous reaction to the slightest irritant), septoplasty with vasotomy (or lateral conchopexy) of the inferior nasal concha is performed.

During the operation, the doctor not only removes the curvature by bringing the cartilaginous plate into a perfectly flat state (for example, using ultrasound cristotomy - rapid dissection of the tissue with an ultrasonic scalpel), but also dissects a portion of the mucosal blood vessels, which ultimately makes it thinner and less sensitive to irritation.

Septoplasty with vasotomy is a fairly common paired operation, since in most cases the curvature of the nasal septum and the pathological swelling of the nasal passages are interrelated. This type of surgery gives a good result, expanding the patency of the nasal passages and greatly facilitating breathing.