title: Effect of nasal packing and haemostatic septal suture on mucociliary activity after septoplasty: an assessment by rhinoscintigraphy.
abstract: Nasal packing may influence the mucociliary clearance of the nose in the postoperative healing phase. In an attempt to overcome some of this problem, a haemostatic septal suturing technique was conceived. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the effects of nasal packing and septal suturing technique on mucociliary clearance by rhinoscintigraphy. Forty-eight adult patients who had undergone septoplasty were included in the investigation. Preoperatively, the patients were allocated into three groups: group 1, fingerstall packs filled with gauze and smeared with vaseline were used (11 male, 4 female); group 2, silicon septal splint packs were used (11 male, 4 female); group 3, haemostatic septal sutures were used (14 male, 4 female). Mucociliary clearance was measured by rhinoscintigraphy in all patients before surgery and 6 weeks after surgery. The nasal mucociliary clearance was presented as the velocity (mm/min) of nasal mucociliary transport of the (99m)Tc-MAA droplet. The mean velocity of nasal mucociliary clearances before and after surgery for group 1, group 2 and group 3 were 1.85 +/- 0.67 versus 2.43 +/- 0.78 mm/min, 2.36 +/- 0.80 versus 2.92 +/- 0.96 mm/min and 2.03 +/- 0.58 versus 2.62 +/- 0.65 mm/min, respectively. A significant difference in nasal mucociliary clearance was observed after surgery in all groups (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding mucociliary clearance before and after surgery. Patients with septal deviation have a prolonged mucociliary transit time as compared with postoperative. Nasal packing did not significantly influence the mucociliary clearance in the postoperative healing phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey. mkula@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.forename: Imdat
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yuce
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Unlu
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tutus
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cagli
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ketenci
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult