What is included in postoperative care following turbinate dysfunction surgery?

Answer

Because nasal packs are present in the immediate postoperative period, humidified air is provided for patient comfort. Pain control is used, but care is taken to avoid respiratory depressants. Antiemetics and other routine medications are also available as necessary. Packs are removed when appropriate, usually on the first or second postoperative day. Absorbable packing materials are becoming more commonplace and reduce the discomfort of packing removal while trading for a longer period of congestion postoperatively. Postoperative antibiotics are usually continued until the packing has been removed.

The patient is instructed to keep the nose well moisturized postoperatively to aid in healing and comfort levels. The patient is provided or instructed to obtain a lubricating spray of the physician's preference, usually saline. Nose blowing is discouraged for several weeks, and sneezing is aided by an opened-mouth technique. Avoidance of heavy lifting and straining is recommended for the first few weeks following surgery.

Did this answer your question?

Yes No

Additional feedback? (Optional)

Thank you for your feedback!

Singh DP, Forte AJ, Apostolides JG, Zahiri HR, Stromberg J, Alonso N, et al. Transoral submucosal resection of the inferior turbinate: a novel approach to functional rhinoplasty. Ann Plast Surg. 2012 Jan. 68(1):46-8. [Medline].
Clark DW, Del Signore AG, Raithatha R, Senior BA. Nasal airway obstruction: prevalence and anatomic contributors. Ear Nose Throat J. 2018 Jun. 97 (6):173-6. [Medline].
Salzano FA, Mora R, Penco S, Traverso D, Gaggero G, Salzano G, et al. Nasal tactile sensitivity in allergic rhinitis. Acta Otolaryngol. 2011 Jun. 131(6):640-4. [Medline].
Wolstenholme CR, Philpott CM, Oloto EJ, Murty GE. Does the use of the combined oral contraceptive pill cause changes in the nasal physiology in young women?. Am J Rhinol. 2006 Mar-Apr. 20(2):238-40. [Medline].
Sharhan SSA, Lee EJ, Hwang CS, et al. Radiological comparison of inferior turbinate hypertrophy between allergic and non-allergic rhinitis: does allergy really augment turbinate hypertrophy?. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Apr. 275 (4):923-9. [Medline].
Freeman SC, Kahwaji CI. Physiology, Nasal. StatPearls. 2018 Jan. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Ozcan C, Vayisoglu Y, Dogu O, Görür K. The effect of intranasal injection of botulinum toxin A on the symptoms of vasomotor rhinitis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2006 Sep-Oct. 27(5):314-8. [Medline].
Garzaro M, Pezzoli M, Landolfo V, Defilippi S, Giordano C, Pecorari G. Radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction: long-term olfactory and functional outcomes. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Jan. 146(1):146-50. [Medline].
Liu CM, Tan CD, Lee FP, Lin KN, Huang HM. Microdebrider-assisted versus radiofrequency-assisted inferior turbinoplasty. Laryngoscope. 2009 Feb. 119(2):414-8. [Medline].
Barham HP, Thornton MA, Knisely A, Marcells GN, Harvey RJ, Sacks R. Long-term outcomes in medial flap inferior turbinoplasty are superior to submucosal electrocautery and submucosal powered turbinate reduction. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2016 Feb. 6 (2):143-7. [Medline].
Whelan RL, Shaffer AD, Stapleton AL. Efficacy of inferior turbinate reduction in pediatric patients: a prospective analysis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2021 Jun 16. [Medline].
Chen XB, Leong SC, Lee HP, Chong VF, Wang DY. Aerodynamic effects of inferior turbinate surgery on nasal airflow--a computational fluid dynamics model. Rhinology. 2010 Dec. 48(4):394-400. [Medline].
Vijay Kumar K, Kumar S, Garg S. A comparative study of radiofrequency assisted versus microdebrider assisted turbinoplasty in cases of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Jan. 66(1):35-9. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Nilsen AH, Helvik AS, Thorstensen WM, Bugten V. A comparison of symptoms and quality of life before and after nasal septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy of the inferior turbinate. BMC Ear Nose Throat Disord. 2018. 18:2. [Medline]. [Full Text].

Media Gallery

Normal-sized right inferior turbinate with a moderate inferior septal deflection.
Bony hypertrophy of the right inferior turbinate following topical vasoconstriction.
Mucosal hypertrophy of the right inferior turbinate with total airway obstruction.
Mucosal hypertrophy of the left inferior turbinate with impingement of the septum and narrowed nasal airway.
A stab incision is made at the anterior head of the inferior turbinate. Blunt dissection beneath the mucoperiosteum elevates tissue for subsequent microdebridement. The microdebrider is turned in all directions, but mucosa is entirely preserved. Video courtesy of Vijay R Ramakrishnan, MD.

of 5

Author

Sanford M Archer, MD, FACS Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Medical Director, UK Voice and Swallowing Clinic, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center

Sanford M Archer, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, American Rhinologic Society, Kentucky Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Dominique Dorion, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS Dean, Professor of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Canada

Dominique Dorion, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA Professor of Otolaryngology, Dentistry, and Engineering, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Cerescan;Cliexa, eMedevents, Neosoma, MI10<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: , Cliexa;;Neosoma<br/> Received stock from RxRevu; Received ownership interest from Cerescan for consulting; for: Neosoma, eMedevents, MI10.

Acknowledgements

Gregory Branham, MD Vice-Chair, Director, Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, St Louis University School of Medicine

Gregory Branham, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Physician Executives, and Missouri State Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgments

Medscape Drugs and Diseases thanks Vijay R Ramakrishnan, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, for assistance with the video contribution to this article.

What is included in postoperative care following turbinate dysfunction surgery?

Related Questions:

References

Tables

Contributor Information and Disclosures