Nostril Collapse
What is nasal valve collapse?
The angle of the nasal wing to the nasal septum and therefore the open or closed airway is closely related to the structure of the nasal valves. Nasal valves must be at the appropriate angle for healthy breathing through the nose. Otherwise, especially functional problems such as septum deviation, a nasal congestion problem will be experienced, which will reduce the quality of life.
The nasal valve consists of two parts, external and internal. Difficulty breathing through the nose (nasal valve insufficiency) occurs with the narrowing of the valve angle or the decrease of the valve area below normal, and it is one of the main causes of nasal obstruction. Nasal valve stenosis may occur congenitally or later. Factors that lead to nasal valve stenosis, which may also occur with the combination of one or more factors, can be listed as follows:
- Rhinoplasty operations performed in the past,
- Traumas taken to the face
- Septum deviation,
- Weakening of the nasal sidewall with aging
Nasal valve collapse diagnosis
Nasal valve collapse, which has a high incidence in people with a narrow nose structure; It can be understood by a simple physical test called the "Cottle maneuver". Nasal valve insufficiency can be diagnosed if the person can breathe easily by placing two index fingers at the intersection of the nose and cheek and opening the area. Nasal valve collapse can usually be treated surgically.
Nasal valve collapse symptoms
Symptoms of nasal valve failure are as follows;
- Sleeping with mouth open
- Snore
- Decrease in effort capacity
- Drying in the throat
- Tiredness
- Aesthetic impairment in the nose (asymmetry in the nasal entrance in the external nasal valve insufficiency from the bottom and front view, if the internal nasal valve insufficiency is unilateral, collapse in the mid-lateral soft tissue of the nose, and bilateral collapse if bilateral)
Nasal valve collapse surgery
Patients who experience the above mentioned complaints due to nasal valve stenosis can get rid of their problems with surgical application. Cartilage supports are used to support the nasal side wall to expand the nasal valve angle during the surgery performed by giving the patient local or general anesthesia. Afterwards, stitches are made to open the air channels in the nose. The techniques to be used during nasal valve surgery differ between whether nasal valve obstruction is static or dynamic. Static obstruction, unchanged obstruction; dynamic obstruction can be defined as the closure of the internal and external nasal valves at low pressures. Spreader, butterfly and spreader grafts are used in patients with static obstruction during surgical intervention. In case of dynamic obstruction, nasal valve suspension sutures, blanket and overlay concha grafts are used. Nasal valve surgery is usually performed at the same time as septoplasty, turbinate surgery, which is performed to restore nasal function. For this reason, doctors should examine patients with nasal congestion in detail and examine their intranasal structures before the operation. Nasal valve surgery performed as a result of incomplete examinations will not be sufficient to solve the nasal obstruction of the patient alone.
Similar link >> Nasal Valve Collapse and Treatment / Non- Surgical Treatment of Nasal Valve Collapse With Spirox Latera ™ Nasal Implant
Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul
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Address: İncirli Cad. No:41, Kat:4 (Dilek Patisserie Building), Postal code: 34147, Bakırköy - İstanbul
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