Nasal endoscopy is a procedure by which it is possible to accurately examine the internal surfaces of the nasal cavity. Thanks to this procedure, for example, it is possible to identify more or less serious suspicious nasal lesions, or it is also possible to extract foreign objects that are inside the patient's nose. To this end, a device known as nasal endoscope will be inserted, a sort of thin optical tube, which is connected to a light source and a video camera, thanks to which it will be possible to project the various images onto a special screen.
Before being subjected to this diagnostic procedure, a local decongestant will be applied to the patient to better favor the "exploration" maneuvers. In addition, the patient will be anesthetized locally, to avoid the understandable discomfort resulting from the procedure, but also to avoid any sneezing that could be caused by the sensitivity of the nose at this particular moment.
In general, experts assure that this procedure is only painful in very rare cases, and would generally be well tolerated by both adults and children. However, it may happen that the patient feels uncomfortable if the nasal passages are too tight or if there is a deviation of the nasal septum.
How nasal endoscopy is performed
Before the examination the nasal cavities are prepared with:
1) a local decongestant, to cause decongestion of the mucous membranes and to facilitate the maneuvers with the optics, increasing the spaces.
2) a local anesthetic, which temporarily anesthetizes the nose and helps to decrease the chances of sneezing dependent on nasal sensitivity.
The procedure is rarely painful, but some patients may feel uncomfortable if the nasal cavity is restricted by anatomical conformation, deviation of the nasal septum or inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Nasal endoscopy technology
Nasal endoscopy can also be used to visualize suspicious nasal lesions and perform a biopsy, or for research and recovery of foreign objects present inside the nose. A wide range of high-tech instruments are used, appropriately designed with rigid and flexible optics, with a diameter of just a few millimeters, in order to display even remote angles in the interior of the nose.
The ability to connect the endoscope with high-definition cameras and video systems that allow viewing images at high magnification has allowed this technology to acquire a fundamental role in the diagnosis of lacrimal ways.