title: Nasal septal suture technique versus nasal packing after septoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare eustachian function and blood gas changes with nasal packing (NP) and nasal septal suturing (NSS) after septoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients who have nasal septal deviation and who otherwise are healthy were studied. Forty of these patients had finger glove NPs in their nasal cavities for 48 hours after septoplasty. Another 40 patients had NSS performed after septoplasty. Acoustic tympanometry and pH, P(CO2), and P(O2) analyses of arterial blood were performed preoperatively and 48 hours postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a statistically significant increase in middle ear pressure (p < 0.001) and a significant reduction of P(O2) (p < 0.001) and increase of P(CO2) (p = 0.041) in the NP group but no difference in the NSS group, postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NSS should be preferred as an alternative to intranasal packing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery, Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty, Sivas, Turkey.
authors.forename: Altan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yasar
authors.forename: Ali Ihsan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bebek
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canbay
authors.forename: Tanfer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunt
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D011182:Postoperative Care; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013536:Suture Techniques
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen