Nasal Cautery, is a minor procedure performed during your consultation by your specialist, using a headlight with or without magnification, and some form of cautery device, usually a silver nitrate stick.
Applied to moist nasal cavity linings, the silver nitrate on the end of the stick release nitric acid, which causes a small, controlled chemical burn at the point where it is applied.
It is usually performed under local anaesthetic, one nostril at a time, but occasionally it is performed carefully in both nostrils at the same session.
It is generally very well tolerated, and is often performed successfully in young children as well as adults.
The most common aspect of this part of the procedure is some brief stinging discomfort when the Silver nitrate stick is applied to the nasal lining, even with good local anaesthetic numbing.