Fiberoptic Endoscopy

The advantage of endoscopy is that it introduces bright light and magnified visualization into the dark cavities of the nose and throat. There are two types of endoscopes available—flexible endoscopes and rigid endoscopes. Rigid endoscopes are usually used for the nose and allow a free hand for using another tool, such when collecting a sample tissue or culture, cleaning the nose or treating a nose bleed . Flexible endoscopes can be more thin and nimble so that they can be delicately maneuvered through the twists and turns of the nose and throat.

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A nasal endoscopy is usually used for the evaluation of the deeper structures of the nasal cavities, sinus openings, nasopharynx, throat and voice box (larynx). Some of the main reasons a physician may order a nasal endoscopy include:

To evaluate why a patient is failing to respond to a therapy or medication, unable to breath through the nose, or cannot smell or taste normally
To clean (debride) the surgical site after sinus surgery
To collect fluids or tissue samples for evaluation (biopsy) or culture
To determine whether any foreign bodies (e.g., small object inserted by a child) are lodged in the nasal cavity and, if necessary, remove it.

The nasal endoscopy will ultimately yield a detailed diagnosis so a physician can determine whether the patient has a condition that requires specific therapy or medication.

What to expect:

Usually, a topical decongestant, such as Afrin, and topical anesthetic (numbing medicine) is sprayed inside the nose prior to the procedure. The medication has an unpleasant taste and takes a few minutes to work fully. Often you cannot feel the numbness in your nose, but you can notice that your front teeth, lip or throat are numb. Patients may also have a temporary sensation of not being able to swallow. The numbness usually lasts for 20 to 30 minutes.

The procedure begins with the careful insertion of a sterile endoscope into a patient’s nostril. In some people, this may stimulate a sneeze or some pain. The doctor will usually find a way to avoid significant discomfort.

If it is necessary to examine the throat, the flexible endoscope is advanced another few inches. At most only about six inches of the tubing is inserted in the nose. Most people do not experience any gagging except on the rare occasion that the scope touches a deep throat structure.

The procedure usually takes less than a few minutes. Occasionally one can still feel a residual odd feeling in the back of the nose for several hours, probably due to the pressure on tissues in narrow segments.

http://www.webmd.com/video/sinus-vs-headaches

“Very easy – very pleasant – no pain whatsoever! I hardly knew it was being done! A quick, easy procedure!” - Marilyn Cooney