Case studies in the surgical management of nasal airway obstruction

Abstract

This article focuses on the workup and treatment of two distinct cases of nasal obstruction. The first case has to do with a 24-year old male who presented with a brief seizure. Review of systems was positive only for longstanding right nasal obstruction. Imaging studies were consistent with a meningoencephalocele. The patient was taken to surgery for excision of the nasal mass and repair of the skull-base defect. Case two involves the treatment of a male with chronic nasal obstruction due to an S-shaped septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. The case illustrates the role of endoscopic septoplasty and shows how the endoscopic septoplasty technique is applied. The article also discusses the management of the enlarged turbinates.