Turbinate reduction is a surgical procedure perforemed to improve airflow in people with enlarged nasal turbinates. This procedure is also called nasal turbinate reduction and inferior turbinate reduction.
Turbinate reduction surgery removes excess tissue around your turbinate bones so you can breathe easier. Turbinates are tiny structures inside of your nose. They cleanse, heat and humidify air as it passes through your nasal cavity and into your lungs.
Your turbinates can become inflamed and swollen as a result of irritation, allergies or infection. Most of the time, this inflammation is temporary. But some people can develop chronic swelling of their turbinates (hypertrophy).
Turbinate reduction is a common surgical procedure. It may be performed alone or in combination with other treatments, such as septoplasty (to correct a deviated septum) or rhinoplasty (to reshape the nose or correct breathing problems).
The overall success rate for turbinate reduction is above 80%. While it’s possible for the tissue around your turbinates to grow back eventually, many people find the results of turbinate reduction satisfactory.
To find out if you need turbinate reduction, Dr Seejo will perform a physical examination. To confirm your diagnosis, he may use nasal endoscopy to examine the inside of your nose.
Your healthcare provider will recommend steroid nasal sprays and/or antihistamines as a first line of treatment. However, if these treatments aren’t successful, then turbinate reduction may be necessary. Turbinate reduction surgery is usually indicated when nasal obstruction leads to congestion, post-nasal drip, sleep apnea or other breathing disorders.
Turbinate reduction surgery can be performed as a same-day procedure. In most cases, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, though some people may only need local anesthesia.
People who have turbinate reduction may experience discomfort for a few days, but it’s usually minimal. If your turbinate reduction was performed in combination with other procedures, you might have more discomfort. To ease your symptoms, take all medications exactly as prescribed.
Turbinate reduction is an intra-nasal procedure. There wont be any external scar, sutures or bandages after the surgery.
After your turbinate reduction surgery, Dr Seejo or his team will provide you a list of detailed postoperative instructions. These guidelines will help you stay comfortable during the healing process.
Crusting will likely develop on your nose. This is from nasal discharge that occurs while your turbinates heal. Crusting may last up to three weeks. To relieve your symptoms, you can use saline nasal spray or a cool mist humidifier. Or you can apply petroleum jelly around your nose.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks and benefits for turbinate reduction surgery:
Generally its a very safe surgery, Risks are very minimal.
Turbinate reduction surgery may result in:
Talk to your Dr Seejo, about the risks and complications of turbinate reduction. He can help determine whether the procedure is right for you.
You’ll be able to return to work and other normal routines in 4-5 days. Complete turbinate reduction recovery can take up to six weeks. During this time, Dr Seejo will monitor your healing to make sure you’re on track.
Although pulmonary medicine only began to evolve as a medical specialty in the 1950s, William Welch and William Osler founded the ‘parent’ organization of the American Thoracic Society
One of the first major discoveries relevant to the field of pulmonology was the discovery of pulmonary circulation. Originally, it was thought that blood reaching the right side of the heart passed through small ‘pores’ in the septum into the left side to be oxygenated, as theorized by Galen; however, the discovery of pulmonary circulation disproves this theory, which had previously been accepted since the 2nd century. Thirteenth century anatomist and physiologist Ibn Al-Nafis accurately theorized that there was no ‘direct’ passage between the two sides.
Open visitation with only two visitors in a room at any given time. No one under 12 years of age may visit without permission .
Open visitation with only two visitors in a room at any given time. No one under 12 years of age may visit without permission .
