Nasal Valve Collapse

Have you ever had difficulty breathing? Or felt like your nose is stuffed? If yes, these are the symptoms of nasal valve collapse. Read the article to know more about nasal valve collapse, its symptoms, treatment strategies and key insights.

What Is A Nasal Valve Collapse?

The nasal air passage extending from the middle to the lower part of your nose is the nasal valve. And the narrowing of this airway is referred to as nasal valve collapse or nasal valve stenosis.

This condition causes difficulty in normal breathing especially when you are lying down or doing exertional activity.

Other than breathing problems, you may also notice the following symptoms:

• Snoring
• Bleeding through nose
• Crust formation around the nostrils
• Mouth breathing

Impact Of Nasal Valve Collapse On Daily Life

Nasal valve collapse significantly affects your well-being. This includes the challenges that you may encounter along with troubled breathing like:

1. Breathing Through Mouth: Mouth breathing causes continuous mouth dryness, irritation and an increased risk of infections.
2. Sleep Disturbances: Difficulty in breathing can compromise the quality of your sleep. This can lead to sleep disturbance and fatigue.
3. Compromised Oxygen Supply: Nasal obstruction hinders the required air to enter the lungs. This causes fatigue and inability to focus.
4. Worsen Over Time: If a collapsed nasal valve is left untreated then it can get worse over time causing other nasal structures to get weak and collapse.

What Are The Causes For Collapsed Nasal Valves?+

The nasal valve collapse can occur due to;

• Previous nasal trauma or surgery e.g., nasal fracture or cosmetic rhinoplasty.
• Age-related atrophy in nasal tissues, causing weakening of the cartilage in the nasal sidewall.
• Deviated septum where the septum is bent, dividing the nasal passage into two uneven parts.
• Nasal inflammation
• Scar tissue development
• Enlargement of nasal tissue

Diagnosis For Nasal Valve Collapse

You need to book an appointment with an otolaryngologist to diagnose the condition. The doctor may ask about your symptoms and medical history and use some diagnostic strategies:

• Nasal Endoscopy: This procedure uses an endoscope to picture the internal findings. It rules out other conditions, confirming the diagnosis for nasal valve collapse.
• Cottle Maneuver: This technique uses a cotton swab to widen the obstructed nasal passage. It helps to identify the exact site of the collapse.

Non-Invasive Approaches For Collapsed Valve

Some “non-invasive methods” for correcting nasal valve collapse include:

1. Use of medication like antihistamines or steroids.
2. Breathing strips that are used on the skin to widen the collapsed airways.
3. Internal dilators for the nose that are used to dilate the airways from inside the nasal cavity.

Invasive Approaches For Collapsed Nasal Valve

For permanent relief from nasal obstruction you need to opt for the“invasive procedure”. It costs approximately $4500 and has a success rate of 90 -95%.

1. Septal Graft Surgery – The procedure involves removal of the damaged part of the bone. And reconstruction of the septal wall. It is effective in individuals with impaired nasal airways.
2. Nasal Ridge Broadening – It involves insertion of a graft in the nasal ridge that will widen the air passage and improve breathing.
3. Suture Technique – This technique uses suture to uplift the nasal valve by securing the collapsed valvular area with the tissues under the eyeball. These sutures dissolve over time leaving a stable valvular area.

Nasal Valve Collapse: Post-Op Care And Recovery

Most nasal valve surgeries succeed with maximum symptom elevation and full recovery in a week. But you need to strictly follow your expert’s advice like:

• Attending post-op follow up
• Following after care routine
• Avoid rubbing nose
• Take only prescribed painkillers, no self medication.
• Consult your expert in case of any emergency.