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.
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...
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 septoplasty
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.
Before these surgeries, the patient needs to have their doctors (surgeon
and anesthesiologist) design a plan of preparation (for example, what medicines
not to take before surgery) for the day of surgery.
These surgeries last about an hour or so, and the patient is closely
monitored because the patient will usually be completely sedated. If there are
rarely complications, usually the patient can go home the same day as the surgery.
After surgery, the patient will need someone to transport the patient home
and to help remind the patient to keep their head elevated and to avoid any
straining during bowel movements or
exercise to avoid nose bleeding. Swelling of
the face and nose is common; ice packs can help reduce this problem.
Following instructions after these surgeries is very important; the success
of the surgery may depend on this after-surgery care. Patients will be
instructed about nasal packing, its removal, the necessary follow-up examination
and the important use of nasal irrigation to reduce nasal crusting or scab
formation. The surgical site for at least a week after the surgery is very
sensitive to "normal" activity such as lifting objects, wearing glasses, bending
over, nasal congestion and other activities and situations should be avoided.
Patients who, after surgery, experience a sudden increase in nose bleeding,
a fever greater than 101.5 F (38.6 C), persistent sharp pain or increased
swelling should contact their surgeon immediately.
Septoplasty and turbinectomy (nasal airway surgery instructions) introduction
The following information is provided to help patients and their families prepare for 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
they feel necessary 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.
What is a septoplasty and what is a turbinectomy?
Nasal obstruction is often caused by a deviated or crooked septum or enlarged tissues (inferior turbinates) within the nose. A septoplasty is an operation to correct a deformity of the partition (the septum) between the two sides of the nose. A turbinectomy is the surgical reduction or actual removal of an abnormally enlarged turbinate from inside the nose to improve breathing.
The goals of nasal airway surgery include the following:
Sinus infection (sinusitis) signs and symptoms include headache, fever, and facial tenderness, pressure, or pain. Treatments of sinus infections are generally with antibiotics and at times, home remedies.
Nosebleed is common in dry climates during winter months, and in hot dry climates with low humidity. Individual taking blood clotting medications, aspirin, or antiinflammatory medications may be more prone to nose bleeding. Other factors that contribute to nosebleed are trauma (including nose picking), rhinitis, and high blood pressure. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition.
Allergic rhinitis symptoms include an itchy, runny nose, sneezing, itchy ears, eyes, and throat. Seasonal allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) is usually caused by pollen in the air. Perennial allergic rhinitis is a type of chronic rhinitis and is a year–round problem, often caused by indoor allergens, such as dust, animal dander, and pollens that may exist at the time. Treatment of chronic rhinitis and post nasal drip are dependant upon the type of rhinitis condition.
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 smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
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 overlying the area and associated tenderness to the touch. Treatment of a sinus headache depends on the cause.
Chronic bronchitis is a cough that occurs daily with production of sputum that lasts for at least three months, two years in a row. Causes of chronic bronchitis include cigarette smoking, inhaled irritants, and underlying disease processes (such as asthma, or congestive heart failure). Symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Treatments include bronchodilators and steroids. Complications of chronic bronchitis include COPD and emphysema.
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 to individual and change throughout your life. Not getting enough sleep can hurt memory performance, health, and your mood.
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 lead to significant injury. In addition to trauma to the face, cosmetic surgery can cause a black eye(s) as a side effect. People should be aware of the situations in which medical care should be sought immediately for a black eye.
What is the operation (procedure) that is recommended?
Ask your surgeon for a
simplified explanation of the type of operation, technique
used, and reasons it should be performed. (Pictures and drawings can tell
patients and family a great
deal.) Why was this specific procedure chosen over possible alternatives?
What is the surgeon's experience with this procedure?
Ask the surgeon about his/her experience with this
procedure, its outcome, and the hospital or setting in which the operation will
be performed. Is the nursing staff accustomed to caring for patients who have had this procedure?
What is the reason that this procedure is necessary at this time?
Is the procedure being done to relieve pain, diagnose a
condition, correct
deformity, for cosmetic reasons, or what exact purposes? Must the procedure be
performed immediately?
