The need for cauterization (non-chemical or chemical under general anesthesia) or diathermy of the nasal septum or turbinates arises when a patient experiences nasal obstruction or hemorrhage—often secondary to surgery or trauma—requiring one or more of these interventions in a hospital under anesthesia to shrink tissue, stop bleeding, or clear the airway, excluding association with other nasal operations. This procedure is indicated for post-traumatic or post-surgical nasal issues, critical in the maxillofacial region where nasal function affects breathing and comfort.
Several scenarios highlight the necessity of this intervention:
For instance, a patient with persistent nasal bleeding after a septoplasty might require diathermy of the septum under general anesthesia to stop the hemorrhage, with the procedure including a consultation to assess the issue. In an aged care context, an elderly patient with nasal obstruction from swollen turbinates post-trauma could need chemical cauterization to improve breathing, adjusted for their frailty and intolerance to awake procedures. By using heat, chemicals, or electrical current, this service controls bleeding, reduces obstruction, and restores nasal function, making it a targeted solution for managing secondary nasal complications within the maxillofacial framework.
Controls bleeding, reduces nasal obstruction, and restores breathing effectively.
Recovery of 1-2 days with nasal soreness and crusting; hospital stay required for anesthesia.
