Vasotomy of nasal conchae - what is it? Vasotomy of nasal concha: indications for surgery, description of procedure and effectiveness

Rhinitis is a symptom that worries every person at least 1-2 times a year. Despite the fact that the discharge from the nasal passages does not seem to be a big problem at first sight, many people will not agree with this. In fact sometimes the rhinitis can disturb the person constantly. It not only causes inconvenience, but also prevents to conduct a normal way of life (prevents breathing, sleep). In this case, common medications (vasoconstrictors) do not bring the desired effect or help only for a short time. Then the doctors offer a surgical method of treatment. By this is meant the vasotomy of the nasal concha. What it is? This is a procedure that helps get rid of chronic rhinitis and other diseases.

Vasotomy of nasal conchae - what is it?

Fighting the common cold can last for years. As you know, some vasoconstrictive drugs differ in that they are addictive. Therefore, when they are canceled, the cold starts again. Chronic rhinitis is a serious problem, as this disease is difficult to treat with medicines. Especially in cases where the cause of increased secretion of mucus is due to allergic reactions or lifestyle characteristics (work with dust, chemical reagents). In such situations, the best way out is the vasotomy of the nasal concha. What is this and how effective is the procedure? Similar questions are of interest to almost every patient who is recommended this method of treatment. To understand what the essence of surgical intervention is, one should learn about the changes occurring in the nose in chronic rhinitis.

As with any inflammatory process, the mucous membrane becomes thicker due to edema. This leads to increased secretion production. For these reasons, air can hardly pass through the nasal passages. As a result of a prolonged runny nose, hypoxia of the brain occurs. To avoid dangerous complications, the vasotomy of the nasal concha is recommended. What it is? By vasotomy is meant the excision of tissues that have undergone chronic inflammation. As a result of this procedure, blood supply to the mucous membrane is impaired, its thickness is reduced and air access is improved.

Indications for surgery on nasal concha

Operation (vasotomy of the inferior nasal concha) is only indicated if the medication is ineffective. In addition to chronic rhinitis, surgical intervention is performed in other pathologies. The following indications for the operation are distinguished:

1. Hypertrophy of the nasal concha mucosa. This disease can be due not only to the common cold, but also to be an independent pathology. Often, hypertrophy develops during puberty.
2. Vasomotor rhinitis. This disease develops due to abundant blood supply to the nasal concha mucosa and the influence of predisposing factors.
3. Addiction to vasoconstrictor. Prolonged use of drops from the common cold leads to the fact that a person can not refuse them. Cancellation of drugs causes only an increase in edema and mucus production.
4. Adhesive processes in the nasal cavity.
5. Hyperplasia of the epithelium.
6. Curvature of the nasal septum, which leads to a violation of the patency of the passages.

In these cases, medication will not bring the desired effect. The submucosal vasotomy of the inferior nasal concha is the only method of getting rid of the common cold. The excision of tissues can be carried out both on one side and with both.

Contraindications to vasotomy of nasal concha

Despite the fact that surgery is not considered a complex procedure and can be performed on an outpatient basis, it is not available to all patients. There are cases when the submucosal vasotomy of the nasal concha is prohibited. Therefore, before deciding on a similar procedure, you should consult an otolaryngologist. There are a number of contraindications for conducting vasotomies. Among them:

1. Pregnancy and the period of breastfeeding. Given that the operation does not apply to emergency surgical interventions, it is recommended to postpone it until the moment of delivery or termination of lactation.
2. Acute infectious pathologies.
3. Exacerbation of diseases of the upper respiratory tract. In the presence of an inflammation focus (sinusitis, laryngitis), the nasal cavity can be re-infected at the time of surgery and after it.
4. Diseases of the blood, accompanied by a deficiency of platelets or coagulation factors. In these cases, the vasotomy is contraindicated in connection with the risk of hemorrhagic shock.
5. Mental pathology.

Preparation for surgical intervention

The submucosal vasotomy of the inferior nasal concha is performed only in those cases when the doctor can exclude all contraindications. For this purpose it is necessary to undergo a survey. The otolaryngologist appoints such analyzes, as OAK, coagulogram. It is important to pay attention to the level of platelets and the time of blood clotting. Also it is necessary to exclude infectious pathologies. For this, a careful history is made. The doctor finds out whether the patient has been in contact with people with infectious diseases. To exclude inflammation of the respiratory tract, attention is drawn to the level of leukocytes in the blood, examining the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, the lymph nodes. A specific method of examination is a rhinoscopy. It is necessary for assessing the nasal mucosa, their patency. The procedure is performed quickly on an outpatient basis.

Technique of vasotomy of nasal concha

Most often, the operation is performed on the lower nasal shells on both sides. During the procedure, the patient sits on a chair. The duration of the operation is about 15-30 minutes. Before proceeding to the vasotomy, the nasal passages anesthetize. There are several varieties of this surgical intervention. Among them:

1. Instrumental method. Performed with a scalpel. The mucous membrane is excised, and the vessels coagulate ("sealed").
2. Laser vasotomy of nasal conchae is a bloodless and painless method of surgical treatment. Currently it is the most common way.
3. Cryodestruction - cauterization of the mucous membrane with liquid nitrogen.
4. Vacuum resection. It is carried out by inserting a special tube into the submucosal layer and creating a negative pressure. Hypertrophic tissue aspirated, resulting in the epithelium markedly narrowed.

Sometimes vasotomy is combined with turbine plastic surgery - excision of the nasal septum. In some cases, a concotomy is shown - the removal of not only hypertrophied tissue, but also polyps.

How is the postoperative period?

After a vasotomy, it is not necessary to perform a tamponade of the nasal cavity, since the vessels coagulate during the operation. Therefore, the risk of bleeding is minimal. However, a few minutes after surgery, a rhinoscopy is performed. The healing process lasts about 1 week. To accelerate the regeneration, it is recommended to use inhalation in the nasal passages. First time you can not visit the bath and take a hot bath, as this can contribute to the development of bleeding.

Possible complications

In most cases, the operation is not dangerous. Nevertheless, the development of complications such as mucosal infection or bleeding is possible. If too many vessels were removed, the blood supply to the mucosa is disturbed. This is dangerous with the development of atrophy and necrosis.

Vasotomy of nasal concha: reviews of patients and doctors

With a properly performed operation, the risk of complications is minimal. Therefore, with chronic rhinitis and hypertrophy of the epithelium, the vasotomy of the inferior nasal concha is recommended. Feedback from patients who underwent surgery is positive. They note an improvement in the condition and the absence of a cold that hampers breathing. Otolaryngologists often recommend this procedure as a method of treating chronic rhinitis.