Why Turbinates Are Important? - Empty Nose Syndrome

Turbinates and Their Important Health Related Jobs

Each nasal cavity contains 3 anatomical structures called "turbinates". These structures, which have outer parts as mucosa and inner parts as vascular structure rich tissue and bone, have different duties. These:
- By heating the air entering the nose
- Cleaning of air entering the nose
- Humidification of the air entering the nose
- Pressurization of the air entering the nose
- During sleep, the underlying turbinate grows in volume and the patient may need to change position in the sleep (nasal cycle)
- Increasing the percentage of oxygen absorption by adapting the air entering the nose to the lung end airways

Turbinate Hypertrophy

Turbinate Hypertrophy

 

In some cases, turbinates within your nose can grow and cause increased airway resistance in the nose, nasal obstruction, and a variety of other symptoms associated with it. This phenomenon, called Turbinate Hypertrophy, can occur temporarily or permanently due to the following reasons:

- allergic and nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis
- infections
- particulate rich air breathing
- use of decongestant spray for long-term and inappropriate dose in the nose

Symptoms of Turbinate Hypertrophy

In fact, the list can be extended. "Turbinate Hypertrophy" can cause a wide variety of symptoms, such as nasal congestion, dry mouth, reduced sleep quality, reduced daily performance. Depending on the nasal obstruction, the lungs are not suited to air expulsion, a reduction in the percentage of oxygen uptake occurs. 

Treatment of Turbinate Hypertrophy

  

Treatment of turbinate hypertrophy includes medical treatment and surgical treatment procedures. Medical treatment options are choiced in patients with allergy related symptoms or temporary turbinate hypertrophy.

 

For surgical treatment options are including total or partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT), lateral outfracture of inferior turbinates, submucosal resection with microdebrider, laser-assisted turbinate reduction, plasma surgery, cryosurgery,  infrared light, vidian neurectomy, chemical or electrical coagulation and radiofrequency volume turbinate reduction (RFVTR) (source: Radiofrequency volumetric inferior turbinate reduction: long-term clinical results).

Only Volume-Reducing Applications Are Recommended!





Turinates are very important structures for normal nose functions. Currently minimal traumatic techniques such as radiofrequency turbinate reduction is the most commonly preffered by ent doctors. Radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction is considered as a safe minimal invasive surgical procedure with only minimal mucosal damage on turbinate, minor patient's discomfort and low side effects for suitabke application (source: Outcomes of surgery for inferior turbinate hypertrophy).

 

Turbinates and Their Important Healt Related Jobs

As seen in the upper tomographic image above, when the inferior turbinates are removed surgically near the anterior, there is an abnormal increase in intranasal volume. For this reason, when we breathe into the nose, the incoming air moves very quickly, moving towards as the dirty, cold, unhumidified and unpressurized to lungs. Over time, nasal mucosa, nasal airway, nasal and lower respiratory tract dryness, infection and tissue changes are inevitable. Recently, "empty nose syndrome" and highlighted videotapes related to intranasal hyperventilation (hyperventilation syndrome) have been published in websites. In patients with turbinate hypertrophy, these tissues are considered to be an "organ", the "organ-protective interventions" are suitable to reduce the volume of the existing volume.

 

Complete surgical removal of the turbinates or excessive reduction of their volume can cause serious health problems that may affect the patient for life.

Video - Nasal Hyperventilation - Dry Nose After Turbinectomy With Septoplasty

Video description: The patient, who had turbinate resection and septoplasty operations in a different clinic, applied to our clinic because of the feeling of dryness, crusting in the nose and not getting enough air while breathing. His complaints increased gradually after the operation performed about 10 years ago. On physical examination of the patient, it was observed that both nasal cavities were wider than normal. It was observed that the inferior tubinate was resected close to the left side. Dry, bleeding and crusted areas were seen in the nasal mucosa. Turbinates are unique structures. These tissues and their mucosa should be protected as much as possible.

You can find detailed information about the empty nose >> https://www.ent-istanbul.com/search?q=empty+nose

 

You can find information about "Empty Nose Syndrome" at >> Empty nose syndrome: Causes, symptoms, and treatment / Empty Nose Syndrome International Association Homepage / Empty Nose Syndrome, Turbinate Reduction Risks, Nasal Surgery ... / Aerodynamic evaluation of the empty nose syndrome

 

Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul

Private Office:

Address: İncirli Cad. No:41, Kat:4 (Dilek Patisserie Building), Postal code: 34147, Bakırköy - İstanbul
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