title: The effect of the duration of merocel in a glove finger on postoperative morbidity.
abstract: We examined the effects of the duration of keeping a Merocel nasal packing in the nose and the application technique (packing applied either directly or inside a glove finger) on postoperative morbidity and complications. The study included 129 patients (67 males and 62 females; age range 18 to 56 years) undergoing nasal septoplasty without turbinate intervention. The patients were randomly assigned into 4 groups. In group 1 and group 2, Merocel was directly applied in the nasal cavity for 24 hours and 48 hours, respectively; in group 3 and group 4, Merocel was kept in the nasal cavity in a powder-free glove finger for 24 hours and for 48 hours, respectively. Pain and discomfort scores were evaluated by a visual analog scale. The time taken between removal of the tampon and when the patients began to breathe comfortably was called the nasal obstruction time. The differences in mean discomfort score between the groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05), while the mean pain scores were statistically higher in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The nasal obstruction time was statistically shorter in groups 2 and 4 than in groups 1 and 3 (P < 0.05). Therefore, keeping Merocel inside a glove finger in place for 48 hours notably reduces the pain occurring during the removal of the nasal tampon. It also reduces nasal obstruction time and prevents synechia, leakage, bleeding, and septal hematoma, without compromising patient comfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taksim Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. celebisaban@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Saban
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celebi
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caglar
authors.forename: Omer N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Develioglu
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topak
authors.forename: Enis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulekci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006406:Hematoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000473:pathology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D013630:Tampons, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics; D011145:Polyvinyls; D005557:Formaldehyde; C027490:polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde foam; C013215:polyvinyl acetate; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol