title: Is nasal packing really required after septoplasty?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Septoplasty is one of the most common operations performed by otorhinolaryngologists. Nasal packing is not an innocuous procedure. The most common problem encountered by the patients after septoplasty is the pain and discomfort during removal of the nasal packs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of septoplasty without postoperative nasal packing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Septoplasty was performed by standard technique. No nasal packing was used in these cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-eight patients were included in the study. The majority of the patients (64.1%; 50/78) on a morning list were operated. Sixty-two patients were discharged home the same day, the remaining others were discharged the next day. Our postoperative haemorrhage rate was 7.7% (6/78) and only 3.8% (3/78) patients required nasal packing. Majority (84.6%) of the patients were satisfied with the operation at the postoperative follow up 3 months later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Septoplasty can be safely performed without postoperative nasal packing. Only 3.8% patients required nasal packing in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. ybajaj@hotmail.co.uk
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kanatas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D001458:Bandages; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D055815:Young Adult