1
Introduction
The nasal valve is defined as the flow-limiting segment of the nasal airway, located at the triangular aperture between the upper lateral cartilage and the septum. The angle formed by these two structures ranges from 10 to 15 degrees and is maintained by the relationships between the nasal septum, the lower lateral cartilage, and the attachments of the facial muscles. The valves constitute the narrowest point of the nasal airway and account for more than half of the total nasal airway resistance. Therefore consideration of the diameter of the nasal passage is essential in the surgical planning for nasal obstruction correction, as it could play an important role in the overall nasal airflow.
Nasal valve collapse has become a commonly identified cause of nasal airway obstruction. In fact, nasal valve incompetence may equal or even exceed septal deviation as the prime cause of nasal airway obstruction. This could potentially account for inconsistent effects or persistent obstruction observed after septoplasty, where satisfaction rates range from 43% to 90%. The valve area may be obstructed secondary to surgical procedures (such as rhinoplasty), trauma, or even aging. The complexity of nasal valve repair techniques, the variable results, and the difficulty of treating previously operated patients, coupled with advanced-age patients not seeking medical attention for this problem, make nasal valve collapse an issue that often remains unresolved.
In many cases, nasal valve collapse is not diagnosed until after surgical treatment, typically septoplasty or turbinate reduction, fails to relieve symptoms of nasal obstruction, in which case further causes are investigated. It is often impossible to know if the correction of obstruction caused by a deviated septum or the turbinates unmasks an underlying valve collapse problem or whether the ensuing increased airflow causes valve collapse. Classically, obstruction of the valve area has been attributed to insufficient support of the upper or lower lateral cartilages. This represents true valve collapse. Fixed valve obstruction, however, may be secondary to a persistently deviated caudal septum after septoplasty. In these cases, lateral displacement of the valve area can overcome this obstruction.
No studies have identified the incidence of nasal valve collapse in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). However, it is likely that nasal valve collapse is more common in OSAHS patients because they are inspiring against an obstructed airway, and increased respiratory effort is more likely to cause collapse. Many studies have attempted to treat OSAHS with valve repair without success. Although valve repair alone is not likely to cure OSAHS, it may be an important component of a multilevel approach to improve the airway.
Various techniques aimed at correcting nasal valve collapse have been described. Techniques designed to lateralize the superior segment of the upper lateral cartilage, involving cartilage and spreader grafts, are effective when this portion has been medially displaced. Nasal valve obstruction may be secondary to the position of the septum (e.g. after septoplasty), and in selected cases, also amenable for repair using a nasal valve suspension technique.
The original description of a technique for repair of the nasal valve by means of a suspension of the valve to the orbital rim was described by Paniello. Significant modifications to this original technique, which simplified the procedure and made it safer and equally effective, were later introduced by Friedman et al. In this chapter, we describe the patient selection criteria and the simplified technique for nasal valve suspension for patients with nasal valve collapse and obstruction. The effect of improved nasal breathing in patients with OSAHS is discussed in detail in Chapter 22.
2
Patient Selection
In general, four categories of nasal valve obstruction can be identified, based on the involved valve (external or internal) and whether it is always present (fixed) or present during inspiration only (inspiratory, also referred to as nasal valve collapse ). It should be noted that both types of obstruction can be present simultaneously. While examining the nasal valve, both the external and the internal valves should be visualized to determine the presence of obstruction. The internal valve is located at the level of the border of the upper lateral cartilage and the piriform aperture. Not only can this area be easily distorted during anterior rhinoscopy, it can also be completely overlooked with nasal endoscopy. Therefore it should be examined before introducing the speculum or endoscope into the nasal cavity. As part of the routine evaluation, the clinician should observe the nasal valve while the patient breathes normally and while taking deep breaths. A normally functioning nasal valve widens in concert with the nasal alae external dilator muscles. Conversely, the nasal valve collapses during inspiration in patients who have inspiratory obstruction. Obstruction of the airway by septal deviation, polyps, or other pathology will make this assessment inaccurate. Therefore many patients have no collapse before septal, polyp, and turbinate surgery, but collapse becomes evident once air airflow is restored. Nasal dilator strips are usually effective in improving airflow by widening the nasal valve in these patients and may serve as a confirmatory test to identify potential candidates for nasal valve suspension.
Patients may have nasal valve obstruction secondary to a deviated caudal septal position, which can be corrected by valve suspension in selected situations. The decision to correct the valve or the septum is based on the results of the Cottle maneuver, the position of the entire septum, and a history of septal surgery. The Cottle maneuver is performed by applying superolateral traction to the nasofacial groove and is considered positive when it causes improvement of nasal airflow as perceived by the patient. A positive Cottle maneuver can adequately predict a successful outcome of nasal valve suspension for the treatment of nasal airway obstruction. The area of obstruction can then be confirmed by intranasal examination at the level of the valve. Direct superolateral displacement (with a cotton-tip applicator) should significantly improve the patient’s nasal airway. Patients with associated rhinitis or other causes of nasal airway obstruction should be treated appropriately before surgery. Objective measurements utilizing acoustic rhinometry to confirm valve collapse are discussed in Chapter 22.
3
Surgical Technique (Outline of Procedure)
Several key points simplify the procedure and deserve special mention before describing the technique for nasal valve suspension in detail. The necessary equipment, which includes the bone anchoring device and needle ( Fig. 22.1 ), has been carefully tested and chosen based on trial and error and has proven to be crucial to the simplicity and effectiveness of the technique. The drill bit is included with the disposable bone anchor set, and it fits into the specific drill used for the procedure. The needle is perfectly sized, and its contour allows for easy placement of the suture from the orbital rim to the valve area. Equipment or instrument substitutions are likely to complicate these important steps.
The procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia. The nasal valve area is examined to identify the area of collapse before injecting local anesthesia to avoid tissue distortion. Two points representing the caudal and cephalad margins of the collapsed area are marked, and an incision is made through the mucosa, connecting both points ( Fig. 22.2 ). This mucosal incision is an important modification from a previously reported technique. It ensures that the suture, once it is looped at the level of the nasal valve and back into the orbital rim, is buried underneath the healing mucosa instead of remaining exposed, which used to promote the development of granulation along the valve area in patients who had a reaction to the suture material. A natural skin crease along the orbital rim is also marked ( Fig. 22.3 ), where the incision for the infraorbital approach will be performed. Alternatively, a transconjunctival approach that provides access to the infraorbital rim can be performed on patients who refuse facial incisions ( Fig. 22.4 ). No significant scarring results from the facial incision, however, and because this approach is significantly more direct and simpler than the transconjunctival approach, we prefer and recommend the infraorbital approach. Local anesthesia with epinephrine is then injected into the valve area, along the maxilla, near the infraorbital nerve, and along the orbital rim. A 3-mm incision is made in the medial aspect of the orbital rim. The skin incision is carried down through the subcutaneous tissue. The orbicularis oculi muscle fibers are then separated with blunt dissection using a Dunning or Freer elevator. The orbital periosteum is exposed, incised, and elevated. Bleeding is rarely encountered and can be easily controlled with bipolar cautery. The periosteum is elevated away from the orbital rim with two Dunning elevators to expose a 3 × 3 mm area. The bone anchor system is used to anchor the suture to this exposed area in the orbital rim. The drill bit included with the bone anchor system is compatible with the battery-operated Stryker drill. A small drill hole is made into the bone, with or without a guide, and the anchor is easily inserted into the bone ( Fig. 22.5 ). Should the drill hole enter the maxillary sinus, the anchor should not be placed, because the thin bone will not provide adequate support. It is crucial for the anchor to be placed at the orbital rim, where the bone is thick enough to engage the anchor. The anchor is designed to be placed beneath the bone surface, thus eliminating the possibility of protruding above the surface and causing symptoms. The longer end of the suture (3-0 Ethibond) is then passed with a curved, tapered needle ( Fig. 22.6 ) into the nasal valve area and passed through the incised mucosa ( Fig. 22.7 ). The 3-0 Ethibond can be replaced with a 3-0 Prolene suture material based on physician preference. After identifying the site of collapse and the intended site of suspension, the needle is then rethreaded and passed through the opening in the mucosa and toward the anchor ( Fig. 22.8 ). Another important technical point is for the needle and suture to “hug” the periosteum of the maxilla so that the suture is along the surface of the bone and not running through the subcutaneous tissue. Subcutaneous placement can cause pain or discomfort. The suture is then tightened and tied with the amount of tension necessary to ensure support of the valve, but avoiding significant distortion of the external valve area. The suture is buried underneath the incised mucosa, which avoids the development of granulation tissue. The orbital rim incision is closed with Steri-Strips. Although only one bone anchor and suture are typically needed on each affected side, some patients may require additional suspension with two anchors and their corresponding sutures on a single side. The orbicularis oculi fibers are not sutured to avoid ectropion. Patients are told to expect some fullness in the nasofacial groove. The vast majority of patients find this tolerable, and patients reluctant to tolerate this side effect of the procedure should be counseled against undergoing nasal valve suspension.
