Dr. Shah obtained his BA/MD from Boston University and completed his Otolaryngology residency at Tufts University followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children's Hospital Boston at Harvard University. After fellowship, he joined the faculty of Children's National Medical Center in 2006. Dr. Shah is an active clinical researcher and has received numerous awards for his research.
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
Deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) and turbinectomy facts
Deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) is surgery to correct a deformity in the nasal septum.
Turbinectomy is the surgical reduction or removal of an enlarged turbinate
(nasal tissue) inside the nose. Both surgeries are done mainly to improve
airflow or improve sinus drainage but may have other purposes such as
nosebleed
control.
There are risks and complications for all surgeries; those for
deviated septum
and turbinectomy surgeries are infrequent, but include the following:
nasal
obstruction,
bleeding,
chronic nasal drainage,
eye damage,
numbness of facial
structures,
septal perforation,
alteration of sense of smell or taste, and
failure to resolve any associated nasal or sinus problem.
Prior to undergoing these surgical procedures, the patient needs to
obtain instructions from their doctors (surgeon
and anesthesiologist) in regard to preparing for the surgical procedure (for example, what medications
to stop taking prior to surgery, when the last meals or drinks may be
consumed prior to surgery).
Deviated septum surgery and
turbinectomy surgery last approximately an hour, and the patient is closely
monitored because they usually will be under general anesthesia. Complications
rarely occur, and the patient usually can go home the same day as the surgery.
After surgery, the patient will need someone to transport the
them home. To avoid nose bleeding, it is important for the patient to keep their head elevated, and to avoid any
straining during bowel movements or
exercise. Swelling of
the face and nose is common; ice packs can help reduce this swelling (a bag of
frozen peas or corn will easily conform to the face, and may provide the
most comfort).
Following the doctor's instructions in regard to
surgery after-care is very important; the success
of the surgery may depend on this surgery after-care. Patients will be
instructed about nasal packing, nasal packing removal, necessary follow-up examinations,
and the importance of the use of nasal irrigation to reduce nasal crusting or scab
formation. The surgical site will be very sensitive to normal activity such as
lifting objects, wearing glasses, bending over, nasal congestion, and other
activities, thus, theses situations should be avoided if possible.
If a patient experiences a sudden increase in nose bleeding,
a fever greater than 101.5 F (38.6 C), persistent sharp pain, or increased
swelling after surgery, they should contact their surgeon immediately.
Deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) and turbinectomy (nasal airway surgery instructions):
Note from the doctor
The following information is provided to help patients and their families
prepare for deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) and turbinectomy (nasal airway surgery), and to understand more clearly the associated benefits, risks, and complications. Patients are encouraged to ask their doctor any questions
or concerns to help better understand these procedures. Nasal airway surgery is almost always
performed through the nostrils without the need for external incisions.
In following sections, instructions are designed to help individuals recover from nasal airway surgery as easily as possible. Taking care of oneself can prevent complications. The doctor that performs the surgery will be happy to answer any related questions about these procedures.
A deviated septum is a condition in which the nasal septum -- the bone and
cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half -- is significantly
off center, or crooked, making breathing difficult. Most people have some sort
of imbalance in the size of their breathing passages. In fact, estimates
indicate that 80% of people, most unknowingly, have some sort of misalignment to
their nasal septum. Only the more severe imbalances cause significant breathing
problems and require treatment.
Deviated Septum Causes
Some people are born with a deviated septum. Other people develop a deviated
septum after injury or trauma to the nose.
Deviated Septum Symptoms
The most common symptom of a deviated septum is nasal congestion, with one
side of the nose being more congested than the other, along with difficulty
breathing. Recurrent or repeated sinus infections can also be a sign of a
deviated septum. Other symptoms include frequent...
Sinus infection (sinusitis) signs and symptoms include headache, fever, and facial tenderness, pressure, or pain. Treatments of sinus infections are generally
Nosebleed is common in dry climates during winter months, and in hot dry climates with low humidity. Individual taking blood clotting medications, aspirin,
Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette
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Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA),
Sinus headache is caused by a sinus infection or inflammation of the sinus cavities. The primary symptom of a sinus infection is pain and increasing pressure
A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Sleep needs vary from individual
A deviate septum is a condition in which the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half (nasal septum) is significantly off center
The most common cause of a black eye is due to an injury to the face or head. Most black eye injuries are minor and heal on their own, however, some may
A deviated septum is a condition in which the nasal septum -- the bone and
cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half -- is significantly
off center, or crooked, making breathing difficult."...
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