Examination: Nose
- Wash hands
- Introduce yourself and ask permission to examine the patient
- Position the patient sitting down. Sit directly opposite them so you are examining them at eye level
Inspect:
- External appearance of the nose -from the front, sides, top and bottom
- Scars
- Skin changes
- Asymmetry
- Use a thudichum speculum to look into the nose, or alternatively if not available use your fingers to hold up the nose and use an auroscope to inspect:
- The nasal vestibule
- The septum - are there any polyps? Is there any deviation?
- The inferior tubinate on the lateral wall - if pale and boggy, think of allergic rhinitis
Examine nasal airflow
- Using a silver tongue depressor under the nose, look for steaming up of the metal when the patient breathes out of the nose.
Examine sensation
- Maxillary division of trigeminal nerve
To conclude the examination:
- Examine the throat
- Test the patient's sense of smell
- Consider using flexible nasendoscopy
- Thank the patient and offer to help them get dressed
written by: celine_lakra, first posted on: 1/03/12, 17:00
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