Nasal endoscopy is a test in which healthcare providers put an endoscope into your nose. This allows them to see within your sinuses and nasal passageways. Nasal endoscopy assists in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of medical disorders. It may also support doctors while doing biopsies on lesions or masses. Let’s learn more about nasal endoscopy!
Nasal endoscopy is a treatment that allows you to see into your nasal cavity and the entrances of your sinus passages. To inspect your nasal and sinus region, your healthcare practitioner inserts an endoscope, which is a long tube containing a camera and a light, into your nose. The camera records video pictures and displays them on a screen.
Nasal endoscopy may deal with these problems:
If you experience any of the following symptoms, your doctor may advise you to get a nasal endoscopy: nasal congestion or obstruction, rhinosinusitis (nasal and sinus inflammation or infection), pain above the eyes and around the sinuses, constant nosebleeds, polyps or tumors in the nose, anosmia, cerebrospinal fluid leak.
Moreover, nasal endoscopy helps obtain a sinus culture or a sample of tissue, take a foreign thing out of a nose, and treat sinus infections, nasal polyps, and nasal tumors.
Nasal endoscopy does not require a general anesthetic, but it needs to employ a local anesthetic. The operator will numb your nasal cavity by spraying local anesthetic into it. Alternatively, you can spray the local anesthetic into your nose with a syringe.
You will be requested to sit erect with your head resting on a headrest. Within a few minutes, the local anesthetic typically begins to act. Your doctor will softly put the endoscope into one of your nostrils. The endoscope is then carefully inserted through your nasal cavity, down into your throat (pharynx), and into your voice box (larynx). The video camera on the endoscope’s tip feeds images to a screen. The operator examines your nose, throat, and voice box on the screen for any abnormalities.
Several moves may be required of you during the exam. For example, you may Puff out your cheeks, chat, drink some colored water, or poke your tongue during a nasal endoscopy. These motions assist the doctor or nurse in making an accurate diagnosis of any abnormalities in your nose, throat, or voice box.
Depending on the reason for the test and what they find, the doctor or nurse may collect one or more tiny samples (biopsies) of the inside lining of the nose, throat, or voice box. This is not an unpleasant experience. Biopsy samples are transported to a laboratory for testing and examination under a microscope. The endoscope is then carefully removed.
Discuss with your doctor what to expect following your nasal endoscopy. Ask them if they have any particular instructions. You should be able to carry on with your usual activities. Inform your provider if you develop a persistent nosebleed.
Nasal endoscopy often gives the information required to develop a treatment strategy. You might address this with your doctor shortly after your endoscopy. In some situations, they may request further testing, such as a CT scan. If a tissue sample was collected during your operation, the results may take a few days to arrive.
Follow all of your healthcare provider’s medication and follow-up recommendations. In many circumstances, your doctor will want to arrange another nasal endoscopy to examine how your therapy is progressing.
Nasal endoscopy is usually considered safe. Nasal endoscopy should not be painful, although you will most likely feel pressure throughout the process. The numbing spray may numb your lips, throat, and nose, as well as have a harsh taste. The numbness should subside in about 30 minutes. Aftereffects of nasal endoscopy may include minor pain in your nose and throat. These symptoms normally go away on their own within a day or two. However, it may have uncommon problems such as nosebleed, fainting, or adverse response to a decongestant or anesthesia
If you have a bleeding problem or use a blood thinner, you may be more prone to bleeding. Your personal risks may differ depending on your age and other health issues. Inquire with your doctor about the risks that are most relevant to you.
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