Nasal fluid management device
An apparatus comprises a body and a conduit. The body comprises an absorbent material. The conduit is in fluid communication with the body. The conduit has a suction opening positioned within the absorbent material. The conduit is operable to draw fluid away from the absorbent material. The apparatus may be positioned within the posterior choana or the nasopharynx of a patient using a deployment instrument. The apparatus may prevent fluids from draining from the nasal cavity into the patient's throat. In some instances, the apparatus is used as a plug during a sinus irrigation procedure to prevent irrigation fluid from traveling down the patient's throat.
1. A method of providing suction within a nasopharynx or choana of a patient, the method comprising:
(a) positioning a non-expanded absorbent body through a nostril of a patient and within the nasopharynx or the choana, wherein a fluid conduit is at least partially disposed within the absorbent body and is thereby in fluid communication with the absorbent body, wherein the fluid conduit extends externally through the nostril of the patient upon positioning of the non-expanded absorbent body within the nasopharynx or the choana, wherein the fluid conduit is in communication with a connector;
(b) attaching a fluid source with the connector in such a way that the fluid source is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
(c) expanding the absorbent body within the nasopharynx or the choana by communicating fluid from the fluid source to the absorbent body via the fluid conduit, thereby expanding the absorbent body with the communicated fluid such that the absorbent body bears against the nasopharynx or the choana;
(d) disconnecting the fluid source from the connector;
(e) connecting a suction device with the connector in such a way that the suction device is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit; and
(f) introducing an irrigation catheter through the nostril of a patient, then introducing fluid into the patient in or near the nasopharynx or the choana via the irrigation catheter while applying suction to the fluid conduit, thereby drawing excess amounts of the introduced fluid from the nasopharynx or the choana via the expanded absorbent body such that the expanded absorbent body retains enough fluid to bear against the nasopharynx or the choana.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is coupled to the connector with a luer fitting.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent body is configured to bear against the nasopharynx or the choana once the absorbent body has expanded within the nasopharynx or the choana.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit is in fluid communication with a connector having a strain relief feature.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the strain relief feature comprises a strain relief overtube that is fitted about an outer surface of the fluid conduit.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent body has a generally ovular cross-sectional profile.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent body includes a face having a semi-permeable skin that slows the communication of fluid into and out of the absorbent body.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent body includes a distal face having an impermeable skin.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent body includes a distal end with a radiused corner.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connector has an internal lumen.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the internal lumen has a varying diameter.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fluid conduit is fitted within the internal lumen.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the internal lumen includes barbs configured to retain the fluid conduit.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit is fitted over a distal end of the connector.
15. A method of providing suction within a nasopharynx or a choana of a patient, the method comprising:
(a) positioning a non-expanded absorbent body within the nasopharynx or the choana, wherein a fluid conduit is at least partially disposed within the absorbent body and is thereby in fluid communication with the absorbent body, wherein the fluid conduit extends externally from the patient in communication with a connector;
(b) attaching a fluid source with the connector in such a way that the fluid source is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
(c) expanding the absorbent body within the nasopharynx or the choana by communicating fluid from the fluid source to the absorbent body via the fluid conduit and the connector, thereby expanding the absorbent body with the communicated fluid such that the absorbent body bears against the nasopharynx or the choana in response to fluid received from the fluid source;
(d) disconnecting the fluid source from the connector;
(e) connecting a suction device with the connector in such a way that the suction device is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
(f) introducing fluid into the patient in or near the nasopharynx or the choana via an irrigation catheter while simultaneously applying suction to the fluid conduit, thereby drawing excess amounts of the introduced fluid from the nasopharynx or the choana via the expanded absorbent body such that the expanded absorbent body retains enough fluid to still bear against the nasopharynx or the choana, wherein the irrigation catheter is separate from the fluid conduit.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the connector comprises an integral loop, wherein a string is attached to the integral loop and the absorbent body.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid source comprises a fluid filled syringe.
18. A method of providing suction within a nasopharynx or a choana of a patient, the method comprising:
(a) positioning a non-expanded absorbent body within the nasopharynx or the choana, wherein a fluid conduit is at least partially disposed within the absorbent body and is thereby in fluid communication with the absorbent body, wherein the fluid conduit extends externally from the patient upon positioning of the non-expanded absorbent body within the nasopharynx or the choana, wherein the fluid conduit is in communication with a connector;
(b) attaching a fluid source with the connector in such a way that the fluid source is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
(c) expanding the absorbent body via the fluid conduit within the nasopharynx or the choana so that the absorbent body bears against the nasopharynx or the choana;
(d) disconnecting the fluid source from the connector;
(e) connecting a suction device with the connector in such a way that the suction device is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit;
(f) introducing an irrigation catheter through the nostril of a patient;
(g) introducing fluid through the irrigation catheter into the patient in or near the nasopharynx or the choana separately from the fluid conduit while simultaneously applying suction to the fluid conduit, thereby drawing excess amounts of the introduced fluid from the nasopharynx or the choana via the expanded absorbent body such that the absorbent body still bears against the nasopharynx or the choana during the act of introducing fluid through the irrigation catheter.