PUBLICATIONS
The increasing number of surgical interventions within paranasal sinuses creates bigger number of patients with postoperative problems. One of these problems is the syndrome of «empty nose» (ENS), which could happen after too extensive sinus surgery especially in cases, when turbinates have been totally resected. ENS patients suffer from severe crust formation in the nose, postnasal drip and headache. The purpose of study was to create a method of treatment of patients with ENS.
Method. We use YAMIK-5 sinus-catheter (SC) in the combination with a special pumping machine for patients with ENS. This pumping machine was specially developed for use with YAMIK SC. The machine allows to create controlled positive and negative pressure with different intervals of time. YAMIK-5 SC gives an opportunity to provide continuous irrigation of the nasal cavity. SC is introduced into the nose. The inflation balloons separate the nasal cavity from nasophring and nostrils. The working channel of the YAMIK SC is connected to the receiver of the pumping machine. Antiseptic solution is introduced through the irrigation channel of the YAMIK SC to the posterior part of the nose in order to wash-out the nasal cavity, and then removed through the working channel of YAMIK SC to the receiver of the pumping machine. During two weeks we were performing the procedures twice a week and then we were making one procedure weekly for one month. Results: 17 patients aged from 29 to 65 years were treated with this method. The use of continuous irrigation with YAMIK-5 SC and the pumping machine gives an opportunity to remove pathological secretion not only from the nasal cavity, but also from paranasal sinuses. In 87% of cases we achieved the improvement of the nasal conditions (decreasing of crust formation, improvement of nasal breathing and decreasing of postnasal drip).
Conclusion. Continuous irrigation with YAMIK-5 SC and the pumping machine is very useful in treating the syndrome of «empty nose».