The effect of duration of merocel in glove finger with tetracaine solution on septoplasty morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to decrease the postseptoplasty morbidities depending on nasal packing by using Merocel within glove finger moistened with tetracaine 0.25% solution.

STUDY

DESIGN

The study was designed as a randomized prospective study.

SETTING

A university hospital in Turkey.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

Our study consisted of 80 patients who underwent septoplasty. The Merocel nasal tampon within glove finger was inserted after surgery in the study group and removed after 24 or 48 hours. Merocel was moistened with tetracaine 0.25% solution after insertion into the nasal cavity and just before removal. The morbidities and normal breathing time were recorded and compared with those of the control group.

RESULTS

The postseptoplasty morbidities were significantly decreased in the study group compared with those in the control group. The morbidities were also improved after removal of tampons after 24 hours compared with 48 hours. However, the normal breathing time was prolonged when the nasal tampons were removed after 24 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

The glove finger provides comfortable removal of nasal packing. The Merocel tampons might be safely removed just after 24 hours postoperatively without any complication.