Nasal obstruction when inhaling

Introduction The clinical manifestations of nasal valve stenosis are mainly nasal obstruction during inhalation, both unilateral and bilateral. Mainly seen in simple chronic rhinitis, the nasal obstruction is intermittent, alternating, mild and heavy, and the lower nasal congestion is more serious when lying on the side. The nasal valve area is the intranasal hole, which is located in the deep part of the nasal vestibule and in front of the front end of the inferior turbinate. It consists mainly of the anterior and posterior end of the nasal septal cartilage and the anterior portion of the nasal cavity. It is a narrow triangle and is the narrowest part of the nasal airway. . If the congenital malformation, trauma, facial nerve spasm, and the expansion of the nasal artery connecting the large wing cartilage lose tension, the angle of the nasal valve area is less than 10°, that is, nasal obstruction occurs.

Cause

Etiology: The nasal valve area is the intranasal hole, located in the deep part of the nasal vestibule and in front of the front of the inferior turbinate. It is mainly composed of the anterior lower end of the septal cartilage and the distal end of the nasal cartilage and the bottom of the piriform hole at the foremost part of the nasal cavity. It is a long and narrow triangle with an average area of 55-64 (mm) 2 . There is a cracked opening at the top of the triangle. The incision is narrow, the normal angle is 10 ° ~ 15 °, is the narrowest gap in the nasal cavity, called the nasal valve. The air sucked into the nasal cavity is the most resistant here. If the congenital malformation, trauma, facial nerve spasm, and the expansion of the nasal artery connecting the large wing cartilage lose tension, the angle of the nasal valve area is less than 10°, that is, nasal obstruction occurs.

an examination

Related inspection

Nasal endoscopy

Clinical manifestations: mainly nasal obstruction during inhalation, no abnormalities such as turbinate hypertrophy or polyps were found in the anterior nasal endoscopy. Lift the tip of the patient's nose and the nasal obstruction disappears immediately. If the thumb and forefinger are pushed to the sides of the nose, the nasal obstruction is immediately released, and the Cottle sign is positive.

Diagnosis: A diagnosis can be made by raising the nose tip test and the Cottle sign positive. The nasal septum front end and the large wing cartilage were introverted by nasal prosthesis to confirm the obstruction.

Differential diagnosis

Intermittent nasal obstruction: nasal obstruction of simple chronic rhinitis is intermittent, alternating, light and heavy when lying, and lower nasal congestion when lying on the side. In theory, nasal congestion can be solved by different treatment methods. Nasal congestion can cause the patient to breathe without the nose, and the patient must breathe, so that it is very troublesome to have some simple daily activities such as eating, drinking, talking or sleeping. Then the nasal congestion also makes the patient unable to concentrate during the day and feels that the patient does not breathe air. Some patients may develop symptoms of anxiety or headache.

Clinical manifestations: mainly nasal obstruction during inhalation, no abnormalities such as turbinate hypertrophy or polyps were found in the anterior nasal endoscopy. Lift the tip of the patient's nose and the nasal obstruction disappears immediately. If the thumb and forefinger are pushed to the sides of the nose, the nasal obstruction is immediately released, and the Cottle sign is positive.

Diagnosis: A diagnosis can be made by raising the nose tip test and the Cottle sign positive. The nasal septum front end and the large wing cartilage were introverted by nasal prosthesis to confirm the obstruction.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.