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Deviated septum
Deviated septum
Classification & external resources
| ICD-10 |
J34.2 |
| ICD-9 |
470 |
A deviated septum is a common physical disorder of the nose, involving a displacement of the nasal septum.
Causes
It is most frequently caused by impact trauma, such as by a blow to the face. It can also be a congenital disorder.
Presentation
The nasal septum is the membranous ridge of cartilage in the nose that separates the nasal cavity into the two nostrils. Normally, the septum lies centrally, and thus the nasal passages are symmetrical. A deviated septum is an abnormal condition in which the top of the cartilaginous ridge leans to the left or the right, causing obstruction of the affected nasal passage. The condition can result in poor drainage of the sinuses, leading to frequent infections or the growth of nasal polyps. Patients can also complain of difficulty breathing easily, or of sleeping disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea.
It is common for nasal septa to depart from the exact centerline; the septum is only considered deviated if the shift is substantial or is adversely affecting the patient. Many people with a deviation are unaware they have it until some discomfort is produced. But by itself a deviated septum can go undetected for years and thus be without any real need for correction.
Treatment
In most cases a deviated septum can be corrected with a minor surgical procedure known as a septoplasty, which enters through the nostrils and cuts away the obtruding matter. The surgery is performed quickly but the patient may take several weeks to fully recover.
See also
References
- American Academy of Otolaryngology factsheet
- (Detailed description with pictures)
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Pathology of respiratory system (J, 460–519) |
| Acute upper respiratory infections |
Upper respiratory tract infection · Common cold · Rhinitis · Sinusitis · Pharyngitis (Strep throat) · Tonsillitis · Laryngitis · Tracheitis · Croup · Epiglottitis |
| Influenza and Pneumonia |
Influenza · Pneumonia (Viral, Bacterial, Bronchopneumonia) · Severe acute respiratory syndrome |
| Other acute lower respiratory infections |
Bronchitis (Acute, Chronic) · Bronchiolitis |
| Other diseases of upper respiratory tract |
Vasomotor rhinitis · Hay fever · Atrophic rhinitis · Nasal polyp · Deviated septum · Adenoid hypertrophy · Peritonsillar abscess · Vocal fold nodule · Laryngospasm |
| Chronic lower respiratory diseases |
Emphysema · COPD · Asthma · Status asthmaticus · Bronchiectasis |
| Lung diseases due to external agents |
Pneumoconiosis (Coalworker's pneumoconiosis, Asbestosis, Silicosis, Bauxite fibrosis, Berylliosis, Siderosis) · Byssinosis · Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (Farmer's lung, Bird fancier's lung) |
Other, principally affecting
the interstitium |
Acute respiratory distress syndrome · Pulmonary edema · Hamman-Rich syndrome · Interstitial lung disease |
Suppurative and necrotic conditions
of lower respiratory tract |
Lung abscess · Pleural effusion · Empyema |
| Other |
Pneumothorax · Hemothorax · Hemopneumothorax · Mendelson's syndrome · Respiratory failure · Atelectasis · Mediastinal emphysema · Mediastinitis |
| see also congenital (Q30–Q34, 748) |
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Deviated_septum". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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