Preventive effects of polyurethane foam and polyvinyl acetate on bleeding and pain in young patients undergoing conchotomies.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the effectiveness of polyurethane foam (PUF) and polyvinyl acetate (PA) as packing materials for reducing post-conchotomy bleeding, pain, and headaches.

METHODS: This study was a prospective, randomized and single-blinded controlled study. Fifty-two patients (5-14 years of age) who underwent conchotomies were enrolled in this study. Thirty-two and 20 patients were packed with PUF (group A) and PA (group B) after conchotomies, respectively. The occurrence of bleeding after removing the packing was checked post-operatively on the fifth or sixth day for group A and second day for group B. In addition, other complications, such as delayed nasal bleeding after discharge to home, nasal pain following removal of the packing, and headaches during insertion of the packing materials in the nasal cavities were also noted.

RESULTS: No bleeding or mild bleeding occurred when aspirating the packing material in group A. In group B, 13 out of 20 patients (65%) had severe bleeding and 7 of 20 patients (35%) experienced mild bleeding. The bleeding pattern in group B was statistically different from that of group A (p<0.05). The number of patients with severe nasal pain during packing removal was higher in group B (60%) than group A (3%; p<0.05). The occurrence of headaches during nasal packing and delayed bleeding was not statistically different between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS: PUF was as effective as PA for controlling bleeding after conchotomies, and more effective than PA for preventing bleeding and nasal pain when packing was removed from young patients.