Customised acrylic nasal stents following recanalisation of modified Young's procedure

Introduction: Maintaining the patency of the nasal vestibule following recanalisation of a modified Young's procedure can be a difficult task, as restenosis is quite common.Materials and methods: Sixteen patients underwent recanalisation of a modified Young's procedure, between January 2005 and December 2007, in the ENT- head and neck surgery department of a tertiary centre. Three different stent types were used following recanalisation: silicone suction tube tips, dental wax plate stents and customised acrylic stents.Results: The silicone suction tube stents prevented restenosis. They were visible in the post-operative period, and there appeared to be some blunting of the nasal valve region, with no functional impairment. Dental wax plates had a high rate of restenosis and were uncomfortable and unsightly. The customised acrylic stents were more acceptable in the post-operative period, and enabled nasal valve angulation to be maintained.Conclusion: The customised acrylic stent described was a superior alternative to such stenting methods as repeated packing, silicone suction tubes and dental wax plates, following recanalisation of a modified Young's procedure.