The nose has an essential role in breathing, olfaction (sense of smell) and speech. Mr Giblett is trained to assess, diagnose and manage a variety of functional disorders of the nose, nasal cavity and sinuses

 

Blocked Nose

 

There are many reasons for a blocked nose, but nasal obstruction broadly falls into 2 categories; a structural narrowing or blockage due to inflammation of the nasal linings known as Rhinitis.

Rhinitis can be caused by a number of irritants which can impact on your breathing and targeted medications may be beneficial. Structural narrowing is more likely to be a result of nasal polyps, position of the nasal partition (septum) or oversized nasal shelves (turbinates) and may benefit from surgical correction to improve nasal airflow. 

 

If a deviated septum is causing persistent obstruction to your breathing then Septoplasty may be available to centralise your septum and give increased airways without any visible scars.

 

If the turbinates are large and obstructive then targeted surgery such as turbinoplasty can reduce the overall bulk and achieve better nasal airflow. 

 

 

Runny Nose

 

A runny, wet nose is normally because of inflammation known as Rhinitis. This may be because of an allergy but not always and allergy testing can be organised in clinic.  

Often a runny nose is associated with other symptoms such as blockage, congestion, eye irritation and sneezing. The treatment is usually medical therapy in the form of nasal drops or sprays but often these aren’t used regularly or correctly and may be more effective in combination with rinses or tablet medications.

​

​

Nose Bleeds

 

Most nose bleeds are short lived and resolve spontaneously, however for some people they can be prolonged or recurrent in nature. If they are troublesome then assessment and treatment is recommended to identify cause and tailor appropriate treatment. Nasal cautery can be performed in the clinic for both adults and most children if deemed appropriate. Occasionally cautery is not suitable and further assessment and/or treatment is necessary.

 

 

 

Sinus Problems

 

Symptoms of the nasal sinuses can be varied but may include nasal blockage, nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, pressure symptoms and facial pains. The sinuses are air pockets in the facial skeleton that communicate with the nasal cavity, the sinus openings can be examined quickly and simply in the ENT clinic with a small endoscopic camera (charges apply).

 

Inflammation of the nasal sinuses known as sinusitis can present acutely with short lived flare-ups or as a longer-term chronic condition that is often linked with Rhinitis and/or Nasal Polyps. Initial treatment is typically with medications but if medical treatments do not settle your symptoms then Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) may be considered. 

 

 

Shape of Nose

 

 

Reshaping of the nose to improve the cosmetic appearance is known as Rhinoplasty. This is not a surgical practice Mr Giblett offers but is happy to recommend colleagues who do specialise in this field.