title: Another advantage of the transseptal suture: shortens the duration of waking up after anesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transseptal suturing against 3 different types of nasal packings with respect to pain, operating time, and postoperative complications after nasal septal surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-eight patients (aged between 18 and 58 y) undergoing nasal septal surgery were included in the study. After surgery, 4 types of nasal packing were used: (1) transseptal suturing (group A: 57 patients), (2) internal nasal splint (group B: 57 patients), (3) Merocel standard 8-cm packing without airway (group C: 57 patients), and (4) soft paraffin gauze dressing (group D: 57 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regarding the mean operating time, there was no statistically significant difference among groups B, C, and D (P > 0.05). However, when the operating times observed in the said 3 groups were compared with those observed in group A, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean (SD) postoperative pain score within 1 to 48 hours was 2.9 (1.3; median, 2) in group A, 6.3 (1.4; median, 6) in group B, 7.5 (1.1; median, 7) in group C, and 7.7 (1.8; median, 7) in group D. Starting from the postoperative 48th hour, internal nasal splint, Merocel packing, and soft paraffin gauze dressing were significantly more painful compared with transseptal suturing (P < 0.05). When compared with the other groups, extubation period and postoperative care unit stay were shorter in the transseptal suturing group (P < 0.05). Regarding infection, hematoma, synechia, or perforation, there was no statistically significant difference among the groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transseptal suturing technique is a useful alternative to packing, with only a minor increase in operating time. Particularly, transseptal suturing shortens extubation time and postoperative care unit stay.
authors.affiliation: From the Ear Nose Throat, Melikgazi Medical Center, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Duran
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karataş
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sentürk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D060666:Airway Extubation; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D001458:Bandages; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010232:Paraffin; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013165:Splints; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013630:Tampons, Surgical; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics; D005557:Formaldehyde; C027490:polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde foam; D010232:Paraffin; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol