Treatment Paradigm for Nasal Airway Obstruction

Nasal airway obstruction (NAO) is a common otolaryngic complaint with many potential causes, frequently structural or inflammatory in nature. Patients typically have multiple coexisting factors leading to symptoms. Good patient outcomes require careful preoperative evaluation, including nasal endoscopy, to accurately identify sources of obstruction and tailor intervention appropriately. Common structural causes of NAO include inferior turbinate hypertrophy, nasal septal deviation, and narrowing or collapse of the internal or external nasal valves. The internal nasal valve has the narrowest cross-sectional area within the nasal airway and is thus most sensitive to changes in dimension due to anatomic variation or surgical intervention.