Development of an Outer Tube That Reduces Nasal Pain and Epistaxis during Transnasal Endoscopy

BackgroundRecently, transnasal endoscopy has become common in Japan. While transnasal endoscopy has many advantages, nasal pain and epistaxis are typical complaints. Consequently, we developed a new tube sheath system for transnasal endoscopy to reduce nasal pain and epistaxis. This new tube sheath system (outer sheath and inner tube) has been named Nasal Slider® and is produced by TOP Corporation, Japan.MethodsA tube sheath longer than the nasal concha is inserted to reduce pain along the nasal turbinate. Since the sheath is left in place, tubes can be passed through the nose multiple times without causing additional pain.A total of 34 consecutive patients (mean age 68.1 years, 22 males and 12 females) who had experienced transnasal endoscopy in the past, would undergo transnasal endoscopy with Nasal Slider® again. After the transnasal endoscopy was completed, patients who gave consent for use of the nasal slider® were interviewed using 3 questionnaires about nasal discomfort, nasal pain and epistaxis.ResultsSince the transnasal endoscope passes inside the sheath, epistaxis can be prevented. Thirty patients for whom trans nasal endoscopy using Nasal Slider® could be carried out. Twenty-seven and 28 patients of all patients used Nasal Slider® expressed feeling less nasal discomfort and pain compared to an examination without Nasal Slider®. No epistaxis was detected in all patients using Nasal Slider®.ConclusionsTo reduce nasal pain and epistaxis, Nasal Slider® for transnasal endoscopy was considerably available. It is currently in use at many hospitals in Japan.