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deviated septum
Thesaurus| Noun | 1. | deviated septum - abnormal displacement of any wall that separates two chambers (usually in the nasal cavity)deviated nasal septum - abnormal shift in location of the nasal septum; a common condition causing obstruction of the nasal passages and difficulty in breathing and recurrent nosebleedsabnormalcy, abnormality - an abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficiencies |
EncyclopediaSeeseptumdeviated septum
Deviated Septum DefinitionThe nasal septum is a thin structure, separating the two sides of the nose. If it is not in the middle of the nose, then it is deviated.DescriptionThe nasal septum is composed of two parts. Toward the back of the head the nasal septum is rigid bone, but further forward the bone becomes cartilage. With one finger in each nostril this cartilage can easily be bent back and forth. If the nasal septum is sufficiently displaced to one side, it will impede the flow of air and mucus through the nose. This condition, called a deviated septum, can cause symptoms and disease.Causes and symptomsA deviated septum can be a simple variation in normal structure or the result of a broken nose. Any narrowing of the nasal passageway that it causes will threaten the drainage of secretions from the sinuses, which must pass through the nose. It is a general rule of medicine that when flow is obstructed, whether it is mucus from the sinuses or bile from the gall bladder, infection results. People with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) are at greater risk of obstruction because their nasal passageways are already narrowed by the swollen membranes lining them. The result is sinusitis, which can be acute and severe or chronic and lingering.DiagnosisIt is easy to see that a septum is deviated. It is more difficult to determine if that deviation needs correction. It is common for a patient to complain that he/she can breathe through only one nostril. Then the diagnosis is easy. A deviated septum may also contribute to snoring, sleep apnea, and other breathing disorders.TreatmentThe definitive treatment is surgical repositioning of the septum, accomplished by breaking it loose and fixing it in a proper place while it heals. Decongestants like pseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine will shrink the membranes and thereby enlarge the passages. Antihistamines, nasal cortisone spray, and other allergy treatments may also be temporarily beneficial.Alternative treatmentAs a palliative, saline drops and sprays are very helpful in loosening mucus in the obstructed side and preventing drying in the other side, where all the air blows. Hot peppers, such as jalapenos, can produce enough tears and discharge to flush out a stopped-up nose. An even more effective treatment is called a nasal lavage, often done using a small pot with a spout. Saline solution is poured into one nostril and allowed to flow out the other nostril. Then, the process is repeated in reverse. These therapies are all useful to take care of symptoms, but do not correct the problem. Nasospecific, a procedure where a deflated balloon is inserted in the nostril and inflated to a large enough degree to adjust the septal deviation, can be an alternative to surgery. A trained practitioner in the nasospecific procedure is necessary.PrognosisSurgical repair is curative and carries little risk. Chronic infection can be painful and lead to complications until it is resolved. If there is continued obstruction, the infection will very likely return.PreventionAvoidance of virus colds, airborne dusts, air pollution, and known allergens will minimize the irritation and swelling of the membranes lining the nasal passages.ResourcesBooksBallenger, John Jacob. Disorders of the Nose, Throat, Ear, Head, and Neck. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1991.Key termsAllergen — Any substance that irritates people sensitive (allergic) to it.Allergic rhinitis — Swelling and inflammation of the nasal membranes caused by sensitivity to airborne matter like pollen or cat hair.Saline — A salt solution in water. Normal saline has the same salt concentration as the body, 0.9%.Sinuses — The nasal sinuses, air-filled cavities surrounding the eyes and nose, like the nose itself are lined with mucus-producing membranes. They provide cleansing to the nose, resonance to the voice, and structure to the face.Sinusitis — Infection of the sinuses.Sleep apnea — A condition in which breathing is temporarily interrupted during sleep. It leads to high blood pressure, sleepiness, and a variety of other problems.septum [sep´tum] (L.) 1. a wall or partition dividing a body space or cavity. Some are membranous, some are osseous, and some are cartilaginous; each is named according to its location. See also defect" >septal defect. adj., adj sep´tal.2. nasal septum.alveolar septum interalveolar septum.atrial septum (septum atrio´rum cor´dis) interatrial septum.atrioventricular septum the part of the membranous portion of the interventricular septum between the left ventricle and the right atrium.deviated septum an injury or malformation of the septum" >nasal septum so that one part of the nasal cavity is smaller than the other; this is fairly common and seldom causes complications. Occasionally the deviation may handicap breathing, block the normal flow of mucus from the sinuses during a cold, or prevent proper drainage of infected sinuses. In some cases surgery (called partial or complete submucous resection) may be necessary to relieve the obstruction and reduce irritation and infection in the nose and sinuses.interalveolar septum 1. one of the thin plates of bone separating the alveoli of the teeth in the mandible and maxilla. Called also interradicular septum.2. one of the thin septa that separate adjacent pulmonary alveoli, containing connective tissue and the capillary network of the blood supply of the lung. Defs. 1 and 2 called also alveolar septum.interatrial septum (septum interatria´le cor´dis) the partition separating the right and left atria of the heart; called also atrial septum.interradicular septum interalveolar septum (def. 1).interventricular septum (septum interventricula´re cor´dis) the partition separating the right and left ventricles of the heart; called also ventricular septum.nasal septum a plate of bone and cartilage covered with mucous membrane that divides the nasal cavity.septum lu´cidum septum pellucidum.pellucid septum (septum pellu´cidum) the triangular double membrane separating the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles of the brain; called also septum lucidum.septum pri´mum a septum in the embryonic heart, dividing the primitive atrium into right and left chambers. See also congenital heart defect.rectovaginal septum the membranous partition between the rectum and vagina.rectovesical septum a membranous partition separating the rectum from the prostate and urinary bladder.septum of ventricles of heart (ventricular septum) (septum ventriculo´rum cor´dis) interventricular septum.deviated septumA nasal septum displaced to one side. It sometimes causes impaired air flow through a nostril. See also: septumdeviated septum
Related to deviated septum: Chronic sinusitisWords related to deviated septumnoun abnormal displacement of any wall that separates two chambers (usually in the nasal cavity)Related Words- deviated nasal septum
- abnormalcy
- abnormality
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