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What is DNE? or Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy
Here in this article let’s know What is DNE? Is nasal endoscopy painful? and Diagnostic nasal endoscopy cost? Firstly What is DNE? Diagnostic nasal endoscopy is nothing but an endoscopic examination of the interior of the nose.
That nose is just what we see on the outside. The nose is a very deep and vast organ extending all the way from the front of the face to the back of the face, just above the throat. So it is impossible to examine the interior of the nose using a headlight. So that is the reason we have to do the diagnostic nasal endoscopy to examine the entirety of the interior of the nose.
What are the common steps which we do during diagnostic nasal endoscopy?
Is nasal endoscopy painful? First, you have to remember that DNE is a very short and painless procedure. So 10 to 15 minutes before the diagnostic nasal endoscopy we spray a numbing solution onto the interior of the nose. Sometimes your doctors may place pledges of cotton soaked in an anaesthetic solution. That is a numbing solution and a decongesting solution and place them on the interior of your nose.
Once this is placed, you may feel a small sting but this is only going to last for a few minutes and your nose will start getting numb. Numbing your nose is not only going to make the procedure comfortable for you but is also important to inhibit the sneeze reflex, which is natural for us.
The decongestant solution shrinks the tissue within the nose and helps an easy moment of the endoscope during the DNE, which helps in visualization of all the structures comfortably for the doctor, and also helps in a complete and deep examination of the interior of the nose. DNE is usually done with a patient sitting or with the patient sleeping on the couch.
The doctor may use a rigid endoscope or a flexible endoscope both of which are equally effective. Once your doctor confirms that the numbing of your nose is complete he will proceed with the diagnostic nasal endoscopy. He’ll pass the endoscope from the front of the nose all the way to the back of your nose. On both sides, it will examine the septum. That is the central partition that divides the right from the left nose. The turbinates are the swellings within the nose and also the sinus drainage pathways.
How can you prepare for the diagnostic nasal endoscopy?
There is no special preparation required. You can simply walk into the hospital to get the procedure done. There is no need to stay NBM that is nailed by mouth. So you can consume your food and liquids as usual before you come for the diagnostic nasal endoscopy.
If you are a diabetic if you’re a hypertensive or hypothyroid patient you can take your daily medication as usual before coming for the DNE. But if you are a heart patient who’s taking clopidogrel or Ecosprin. You have to stop these medications at least 48 hours before the procedure.
You can drive yourselves to the hospital. If you express anxiety about the procedure to your doctor might prescribe anxiolytic-like alprazolam which you can take on the day before the procedure and on the day of the procedure since alprazolam can cause some sedation, it is advisable that your friends or your family drive you to the procedure.
What are the complications seen with DNE?
DNE is a very safe procedure. Being a tertiary center like ours, where we operate on a high volume of nose and sinus patients. We also see these complications as rarely as maybe one episode in one or two years. The first common thing we see is an allergic reaction. See, some patients develop allergic responses to the numbing solution we spray into the nose. They get a lot of sneezing and itching in the nose, their nose becomes red, and their eyes become red. They start crying and we may have to stop the procedure for that day. And this allergic response can be brought under control very easily.
Some patients faint during the procedure. That is they develop a vasovagal attack and we can make the patient regain consciousness very soon and that is the reason we perform this DNE with the patient seated in a recliner chair or with the patient sleeping on the couch.
Bleeding is one more common complication we see during DNEs. And this is more commonly seen in patients having bleeding disorders. And that is the reason we advise the cardiac patients to stop blood-thinning at least 48 hours before they come to us. And this bleeding also can be controlled very easily.
Hope we could explain What is DNE, Is nasal endoscopy painful? and Nasal endoscopy for sinusitis. To know about Diagnostic nasal endoscopy cost, Get an appointment with the best sinus doctor in Hyderabad, Dr. G V K Chaitanya Rao.
FAQ’S
No, it is not. Even kids as young as about 10 years of age seem to tolerate it too well.
The DNE procedure takes anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes and your stay in the hospital should not exceed an hour.
Yes.! You can drive yourself back to work or home and get back to whatever work you’re doing.
There are no special precautions you need to take before the procedure. If you are a diabetic hypertensive or hypothyroid patient you need to take your regular medications. If you’re a heart patient taking blood thinners, you have to stop them at least 48 hours before the procedure.
You can simply drive yourself back to work. Once the procedure is finished. For some patients, the numbing solution, which is sprayed onto the interior of the nose, trickles back into the throat and the tongue. This numbs the throat and the tongue also. This causes a loss of perception of swallowing. You can swallow, but you cannot passivate. So you do not get tense about it. This is only going to last, maybe half an hour to 45 minutes. And you’ll regain your sense of swallowing. So it is advised that you don’t consume any liquids or food for half an hour to 45 minutes when the numbing lasts.
