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Nasal Endoscopy
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What is Nasal Endoscopy
The interior of the nose is quite a large cavity, a fact that may not be recognised by the lay person as the entry to the nose ie the nasal vestibule is quite small. This is quite akin to a small door that opens into a very large room. It is not possible to perform a detailed examination of the nasal cavity with a torch light or a headlight as only a small frontal area of the nose is illuminated allowing only a “keyhole” view of the front part of the nose whereas most of the nasal cavity remains dark. The nasal endoscope enables a complete and detailed examination of the nasal cavity. There are two types of nasal endoscopes; the rigid and the flexible. The rigid endoscope is a 4mm slender tube with an eye piece on one end. The rigid endoscopes are available in various angles to enable angled visualization of the nasal cavity. The eye piece of the endoscope is usually connected to a high definition video camera system and provides an excellent examination of the nasal cavity on a high definition video monitor. High definition images can be captured and / or video-recording of the examination can be obtained and archived.
Office setup for nasal endoscopy
Procedure
The examination is performed in the office/clinic. A local anesthetic which also decongests the nose is applied to the nose using a spray mechanism. The anesthetic may taste bitter and may numb your throat. This sensation may last for about half hour to 45 minutes. About 10 minutes after application of the local anaesthetic, the nasal endoscopy is performed. The examination is not painful but you may feel some pressure sensation in the nose. It is advised that you do not make any abrupt movements during the procedure. During the examination, state of the nasal mucosa, nasal secretions, openings of the various sinuses are visualized for any evidence of infection, allergy or other pathology. The procedure takes few minutes. There are no complications. Occasionally your nose may bleed following the examination. The bleeding is usually mild and stops spontaneously.
Pus tracking from right maxillary sinus
Mucocele
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Not sure if nasal endoscopy is for you? Speak to A/Prof Sethi to find out if this is the right examination for you at +65 8125 3580. Or book an appointment with A/Prof Sethi for a consultation on your symptoms and treatment options.