title: Influence of nasal pack removal on patients' anxiety after septoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the effects of the removal of Merocel nasal packs on patients' anxiety after septoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients (26 males, 24 females; mean age 30 years; range 18 to 56 years) who underwent septoplasty in the Department of Ear Nose and Throat of our hospital between January 2013 and January 2015 were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients' anxiety was measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Anxiety levels were measured 24 hours preoperatively, 48 hours postoperatively before nasal pack removal, and 60 minutes after nasal pack removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores were 44.2±7.4 preoperatively, 45.1±7.1 postoperatively before pack removal, and 37.4±6.7 after pack removal. There was no statistically significant difference between pre- and postoperative evaluations. However, patients' anxiety decreased statistically significantly in the evaluation 60 minutes after pack removal (p=0.0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend administering soluble packs or sewing techniques without nasal packs after septoplasty due to concerns related to quality of life after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Akyazı State Hospital, 54400 Akyazı, Sakarya, Turkey. drcaner2001@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Caner
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Şahin
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: İmer Aras
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013630:Tampons, Surgical; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics; D005557:Formaldehyde; C027490:polyvinyl alcohol formaldehyde foam; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol