Assessment of Complications of Nasal Packing after Septoplasty

Objective: To assess the complications of postoperative nasal packing among septoplasty patients.Methods: A total of 70 patients were randomized into two groups; 35 patients with nasal packing and 35 patients without nasal packing.Results: Grades of pain expressed by patients in the nasal packing group during the first 24 hours postoperatively and during the removal of the pack were significantly more than that in the non-packing patients group. Postoperatively, patients who underwent nasal packing sustained significantly more epiphora, headache and sleep disturbances (p 0.001, p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences between both groups regarding incidence of hematoma, epistaxis or adhesions. None of the patients in either study groups experienced postoperative nasal valve narrowing or local infection.Conclusions: Nasal packing in septoplasty patients is not necessary. It causes significantly more pain and complications, and it should be reserved only for those who have bleeding tendency.