title: Breathing straws.
abstract: Following nasal, septal or endoscopic surgery, it is common practice to insert nasal packs in both nasal cavities to achieve haemostasis, if there has been any bleeding at the end of the procedure. However, such packs make it difficult for patients to breathe, mainly in the first post-operative night which leads to discomfort and poor sleep. To enable patients to breathe better with nasal packs in situ, we describe a simple technique using trimmed straws and wrapped Netcell packs for post-operative care following septal surgery, rhinoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery. These packs also assist suction of any blood or mucous from the post-nasal space.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. DhanasekarENT@aol.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dhanasekar
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simmen
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Briner
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012119:Respiration; D015503:Surgical Sponges