Background
Anterior nasal packing (ANP) after nasal surgeries usually causes significant pain and
discomfort. Up to the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence accepted for the optimum
duration of postoperative ANP.
Objective
Th aim was to determine the optimum duration for ANP in patients undergoing common nasal
surgeries associated with the least discomfort and complications.
Patients and methods
A prospective randomized clinical study was carried out in Benha University Hospital
from November 2018 to August 2019. It included 150 patients who underwent common
nasal surgeries: submucosal resection of the nasal septum and/or inferior turbinoplasty
or functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients were allocated into four groups (A, B, C,
and D) according to the duration of ANP (6, 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively). The groups
were compared regarding pain during removal of the pack, epiphora, dysphagia, sleep
disturbances, bleeding, infection, septal hematoma, septal perforation, crustations, and
adhesions.
Results
Mean pain score was significantly lower in group A and higher in group D. Incidence of
epiphora and sleep disturbances before pack removal was significantly lower in group A and
higher in group D regardless of the type of surgery, whereas it was not significant regarding
dysphagia. Bleeding, infections, crustations, hematoma, adhesions, and septal perforations
showed nonsignificant statistical difference among the four groups.
Conclusion
Early removal of ANP is significantly associated with better patient comfort and less pain and
does not increase the incidence of other complications. |
