As in many, if not all surgeries, there is always a possibility of complications during and or post-op. Any type of patient, no matter the age or sex, but specifically, patients with excessive weight and or increased BMI, the risk for complications can increase. That being said, it can affect the patients with low weights as well but not as bad.
These complications and risks all relate to a patient's body reacting to any type of surgery. This will also increase exponentially if and when a general anesthetic is used and ultimately also leads to different types of risks and complications in the healing process as well. This has led to many patients refusing operations, which can be even worse to their health than the minor possibilities of complications.
These complications and risks can also increase if a patient has any pre-existing medical problem. This includes both which they either know of or not and even at times when they know of it but don't mention anything to their surgeons pre-op. This happens mostly when it is something that they are embarrassed about and feel the need to lie.
As all these causes or reasons can lead to a disastrous outcome, Therefore, any procedure, no matter how big or small and especially under general anesthetic should be approached with honesty from the patient. When it comes to pre-existing conditions no matter how embarrassing, never lie or omit. Even if it isn't a condition but a symptom, for example, a runny nose that just won't go away, always mention it to the surgeon.
When it comes to deviated septum surgery risks, it isn't as simple as other procedures because of:
- An extra surgical procedure is sometimes done after the initial deviated septum surgery (DSS) has healed
- The actual adherence to the post-DSS after-care or instructions might not have followed correctly
- Something simple as attending follow up sessions post-DSS in the surgeon's rooms.
All these risks and complication reasons mentioned above have made it quite necessary for surgeons to insure themselves heavily. This affects the cost of the surgeons billing you as well as the amount of paperwork needed to be completed by the patient before any surgery. This is all done just so that the surgeon can cover himself or herself in case a patient has a complication which they feel they weren't made aware of.
Please note that by listing the risks and complications below has been reported by many medical literature journals. It is not inclusive of every possible risk or complication. It is also not been made to scare or frighten the patient away from having any type of surgery, especially the deviated septum surgery. It is there as an informative list of any potential risks and is to be known as minimal risk listings.
Patients should always weigh this list against having the DSS or not and the consequences of not having it. Even if considering something else that could be an alternative to the deviated septum surgery they should weigh the risks as well.
Patients should also consider that the surgeon is not only experienced but qualified to perform the deviated septum surgery at his or her best abilities, with the minimalist risks involved for a positive outcome that benefits the patients' health. These benefits are to be considered for post-op as well as in the future.
The following is a list of complications that may occur with deviated septum surgery:
- 1A later re-deviation of the septum or the septum straightening failing which can cause a nasal obstruction.
- 2The swelling of the turbinates or a re-growth of the turbinates.
- 3This may lead to a surgically revised procedure and all risks repeated.
- 4Co-existing Sinus infections might not be resolved.
- 5Re-occurrence of sinus problems.
- 6Polyps might also re-occur.
- 7All these can lead to an even more radical or aggressive form of sinus surgery.
- 8Excessive bleeding which in some rare cases can lead to extra blood transfusions especially if a patient has a low blood count or an anemia sufferer.
- 9Chronic drainage from the nasal cavity
- 10Excessive or constant dryness.
- 11The nose or sinus crusting excessively or chronically.
- 12A re-evaluation of any allergies, treatments and or environments, as there is no surgery "cure" or a substitute for any type of allergy treatment of control methods.
- 13This D S S procedure is never a cure and may not improve any concurrent respiratory illness that may be running in tandem with the sinus problem, and is not limited to either asthma, coughing problems and or bronchitis.
- 14Sinus and nasal headaches associated with sinus problems are not always resolved successfully or at all.
- 15As most headaches cannot be blamed on or caused by something exact as the nasal turbinates or septum and a patient has to re-consult with another specialist afterward like a neurologist.
- 16Damage can be caused to the structure and other associated areas of the eye
- 17And infection or leakage of brain fluid (CSF)
- 18Facial, upper teeth and or palate numbness that can remain permanent.
- 19The possible need to be re-hospitalized for severe and prolonged hearing loss or extreme pain.
- 20A hole inside the nose (known as your septum) which is called a perforation of the septum, which causes a connection between the left and right-hand sides of the nose.
- 21Failure to relive epistaxis (nosebleeds)
- 22Failure to restore your sense of taste and or smell
- 23Worsening the sense of taste and smell
Please note, these deviated septum surgery risks and complications on the above list might seem a bit long for such an easy and day-to-day procedure. Always remember that most, if not all these procedures, are done at a 100% success rate.
So please remember what was said above, that this list is not there to push you away from the actual procedure. It is only there to make you aware of what might happen. This is especially true if the surgeon does not have all your relevant medical information at hand before he proceeds. Deciding on whether the surgery will be a benefit or not while considering the list on one hand and your future health in the other.hand is always the surgeon's main reason for his decision.
So good luck to anyone going for this procedure any other related procedures, even though you won't need it when in the hands of the experienced and qualified surgeons around today.
Please note for any further queries on complications and or risks, or to follow up on where the above information came from please follow this link: Nasal Airway Surgery (Septoplasty).
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