NOSE BLEEDS Flashcards
Whats the function of the nose?
Filtration via hairs, mucus, cilia
Warming
Humidifcation
Olfaction
Vocal resonance via sinuses
What is the internal anatomy of the nose lined with?
Ciliated epithelium
Where’s the final common pathway for sinus draining in the nose?
Around the middle turbinate
Whats the function of the turbinates?
They promote laminar flow of air from the nose to the lungs - this is more organised and efficient than turbulent flow
Blood supply to the nose
Posterior ethmoidal artery
Branch of the anterior eithmoidal artery
Very extensive anastamoses!
What is Little’s area?
Aka kiesselbach’s plexus
an anastomosis of 5 arteries: anterior ethmoidal artery, posterior ethmoidal artery, sphenopalatine artery, greater palatine artery, and the septal branch of the superior labial artery
What are the sinuses?
Anterior - Frontal, maxillary and anterior ethmoid
Posterior - Posterior ethmoids and sphenoidal sinuse
Where do thr anterior sinuses drain?
To the middle meatus
Where do the posterior sinuses drain to?
Superior meatus/ sphenoethmoidal recess
Which sinuses are not present in children and when do they develop?
Frontal sinus - Around the age of 7
Sphenoid sinus - fully developed by adolescent
Functions of the sinuses?
Decreases relative weight of front of skull
Increases resonance of voice
Provides a buffer against blows to face - crumple zone
Insulates sensitive structures like dental roots and eyes from rapid temperature fluctuations in the nasal cavity
Humidifying and heating of inhaled air because of slow air turnover in this region
Regulation of intranasal and serum gas pressures
Immunological defence
What can cause a nasal obstruction?
Congenital/acquired
Deviated septum
Rhinitis
Rhinosinusitis
Polyps
FB
Neoplasm
Red flag symptoms for nasal neoplasia?
Unilateral nasal obstruction
Unilateral constant nasal bleeding
How can you examine the obstructed nose?
The ability to mist a speculum in front of nose to test patency of nostrils
Anterior rhinoscopy
Flexi/regid scope +/- anaesthetics
Check oropharynx and larynx
Check CN too
Pathophysiology of acute sinusitis?
Inflammation of the mucous membranes of the paranasal sinuses which can lead to blockag
Treatment of acute sinusitis?
Analgesia
Intranasal decongestants or nasal saline - evidence is limited
Intranasal corticosteroids if symptoms present for >10 days
Antibiotics only if systemically unwell and high risk of complications!!
Sometimes surgery for sinus washout is required but this is rare
What is the diagnoses:
Newborn baby has difficulty breathing from birth and having intermittent central cyanosis. An NG tube cannot be passed.
B/L choanal atresia
What is the choanae?
the posterior nasal aperture, separated by the vomer.
It is the opening between the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx.
How does U/L choanal atresia present?
Usually missed in childhood
Picked up in late teeens/early adulthood when pt cannot breathe through 1 nostril
there’s often unilateral discharge
What is CHARGE syndrome?
Coloboma
Heart defects
Choanal atresia
Retardede growth
Genital defects
Ear defects
What are the 3 types of allergic rhinitis?
seasonal: symptoms occur around the same time every year e.g. hay fever
perennial: symptoms occur throughout the year
occupational: symptoms follow exposure to particular allergens within the work place
Treatment of allergic rhinitis?
Avoidance of triggers
Intranasal steroids and antihistamines
Sodium cromoglycate
Desensitisation
How common is chronic rhinosinusitis?
1 in 10 people
Symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis?
Facial pain - usually frontal pressure worse on bending forward
Nasal obstruction/moutn breathing
Nasal discharge - usually clear (if thick then suggests secondary infection)
Post nasal drip which may produce a chronic cough
What is chronic rhinosinusitis?
And inflammatory disorder of the paranasal sinuses lasting >12 weeks
How do you manage chronic rhinosinusitis?
Avoid allergen
Intranasal corticosteroids
Nasal irrigation with saline solution
Types of nasal polyps?
Bilateral - more common
Unilateral - may suggest something sinister