Septomeatoplasty
Overview
Septomeatoplasty stands for septoplasty and turbinoplasty. It is a surgical procedure to improve the nasal patency, making it easier to breathe.
Features Summary
Deviation of the cartilaginous and/or bony parts of the septum into one or both nasal passages, and hypertrophy of bilateral inferior turbinates would hinder airflow and cause a sensation of nasal blockage. Septomeatoplasty can correct the deviated nasal septum and reduce the volume of bilateral inferior turbinates. The surgery can be performed under either local or general anesthesia.
Procedure
For septoplasty: Local anesthetic is infiltrated bilaterally in the sub-mucoperichondrial plane, using 1% lidocaine with epinephrine. Typically, a hemi-transfixion or Killian's incision is made, and the mucoperichondrial flap was elevated. To maintain nasal dorsum and tip stability, an "L-strut" shape of quadrangular cartilage is preserved, the posterior aspect of the cartilage is, therefore, often the area that is removed. Sometimes, the vomer bone is also removed if also hinder the nasal flow.
Turbinoplasty includes many kinds of surgical options, such as partial turbinectomy, submucosal resection of turbinates, microdebrider-assisted inferior turbinoplasty, and turbinate lateralization.
Notification
Pre-operative consultation is important. Adequate mutual communication is one of the keys to success.
After the surgery, nasal packing is used for hemostasis. If unabsorbable packing is used (such as Merocel), it should be removed within 72 hours. The patient will need to be seen in 1 to 2 weeks for post-operative assessment and local treatment. The optimal outcome can be observed in approximately 4-6 weeks.
Possible surgical complications of septomeatoplasty include post-operative bleeding, post-operative infections, atrophic rhinitis, intra-nasal synechia, nasal septal perforation, and empty nose syndrome.
Estimated Cost
For estimated medical costs, please contact International Medical Services Center.