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Medical Author:

Rahul K. Shah, MD, FAAP, FACS

Rahul K. Shah, MD, FAAP, FACS

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.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

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.

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In this Article

• Deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) and turbinectomy facts
• Deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) and turbinectomy (nasal airway surgery instructions): Note from the doctor
• What is deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?
• Pictures of the anatomy of the sinuses and turbinates
• What are risks and complications of deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?
• What happens before deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?
• What happens the day of deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?
• What happens during deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?
• What happens after deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?
• General instructions and follow-up care for deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy
• When to call the doctor for deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy
• Find a local Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor in your town
• Nasal Airway Surgery Index

What happens the day of deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?

It is important for patients to know precisely what time to check in with the surgical facility, and to allow sufficient preparation time. Patients should bring all papers and forms with them including any pre-operative orders and history sheets. They should wear comfortable loose fitting clothes which do not have to be pulled over the head. All jewelry and valuables should be left at home. All make-up should be removed with a cleansing cream. Patients should thoroughly wash their face with soap and water. They should not apply make-up, loiton, or cream to the face.

Patients should not take any medication unless instructed by the doctor or anesthesiologist. Usually in the pre-operative holding room, a nurse will start an intravenous infusion line (IV) and patients may be given a sedative medication to help them relax.

What happens during deviated septum surgery (septoplasty) or turbinectomy?

In the operating room, the anesthesiologist will usually use a mixture of a gas and an intravenous medication to put the patient to sleep and to maintain anesthetic sedation at a safe and comfortable level. During the procedure, the patient will be continuously monitored with devices including a pulse oximeter (oxygen saturation) and a cardiac rhythm monitor (EKG). The surgical team is prepared for any emergency. In addition to the surgeon and the anesthesiologist, there will be a nurse and a surgical technician in the room. The entire procedure takes approximately one hour, however this can vary greatly depending on the patient's anatomical considerations for the surgeon. The doctor will come to the waiting room to talk with any family or friends once the patient is safely transported to the recovery room.