1824 Scholars Journal of Applied Medical Sciences (SJAMS) ISSN 2320-6691 (Online) Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2014; 2(5E):1824-1827 ISSN 2347-954X (Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) www.saspublisher.com Research Article Does the Use of an Endoscope in Conventional Septal Surgery Provide Benefit in Patients of Deviated Nasal Septum? V. Krishna Chaitanya 1* , N. Janardhan 2 , S. Rajesh Kumar 3 , G.Rakesh 4 1 Associate Professor, Department of ENT, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh 2 Professor, Department of ENT, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh 3 Associate Professor, Department of ENT, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh 4 Post graduate, Department of ENT, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh *Corresponding author Dr. V. Krishna Chaitanya Email: Abstract: Nasal obstruction is one of the most frequent among the nasal symptoms affecting the human population. Refinement in the diagnosis and treatment of nasal obstruction is possible with the use of the endoscope. Apart from the abnormalities of lateral nasal wall nasal endoscopy can precisely diagnose the pathological abnormalities of the nasal septum. The objectives of the study were to observe the advantage of using an endoscope intra operatively in patients of deviated nasal septum undergoing conventional septal surgery and to assess the relief of nasal symptoms in patients of deviated nasal septum by conventional septal surgery with an endoscope. Conventional Septoplasty or Sub mucous resection of nasal septum was performed in all the patients to relieve the nasal symptoms. During performing conventional septal surgery zero degree 4 mm endoscope was used intra operatively to observe for remnants of septal deviation or any associated diseases of lateral wall of the nose after an initial conventional septal surgery. In conclusion, the relief of symptoms in the deviated nasal septum was better when an endoscope is used intra operatively in patients of deviated nasal septum undergoing conventional septal surgery. There was a significant relief in nasal symptoms in patients of deviated nasal septum treated by conventional septal surgery with an endoscope. Keywords: Deviated Nasal septum, Septoplasty, Endoscopy. INTRODUCTION Nasal obstruction is one of the most frequent among the nasal symptoms affecting the human population. A variety of etiologies are observed in nasal obstruction but a deviated nasal septum is one among the most common etiologies of nasal obstruction. Deviated nasal septum apart from producing nasal obstruction also may be causative for Epistaxis, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea and headaches attributable to contact points with structures of the lateral nasal wall [1]. Present day evaluation of septal deviation depends on physical examination and imaging. Refinement in the diagnosis and treatment of nasal obstruction is possible with the use of the endoscope. Apart from the abnormalities of lateral nasal wall nasal endoscopy can precisely diagnose the pathological abnormalities of the nasal septum [2]. Surgical correction of deviated nasal septum has been performed by a variety of techniques of which sub mucous resection and septoplasty procedures of surgical correction of nasal septum play a prime role in management of patients of nasal obstruction. .After the invention of nasal endoscopes tremendous changes have evolved in the field of septal surgery. Now a day’s endoscopes are being used in performing septal surgery so as to allow access in performing endoscopic sinus surgery where it was termed as performing endoscopic septoplasty [3]. Over the last two decades, the applications for endoscopy in the field of Rhinology have evolved beyond functional endoscopic sinus surgery. However the use of an endoscope or the procedure of performing an endoscopic septoplasty for the relief of nasal obstruction has its own limitations particularly in gross deviations and also posterior deviations of nasal septum and the use of an endoscope in relief of nasal symptoms is always debatable. In the present study we tried to observe the role of an endoscope in conventional septal surgery and the relief of nasal obstruction in conventional septal surgery with the use of an endoscope.