The benefits of hypopharyngeal packing in nasal surgery: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND

Hypopharyngeal packs are used in nasal surgery to reduce the risk of aspiration and postoperative nausea and vomiting. Side effects associated with their use range from throat pain to retained packs postoperatively.

AIM: To evaluate, as a pilot study, postoperative nausea/vomiting and throat pain scores for patients undergoing nasal surgery in whom a wet or dry hypopharyngeal pack was placed compared with patients who received no packing.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind prospective trial in a general ENT unit.

RESULTS

The study failed to show a statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of their postoperative nausea/vomiting and throat pain scores at 2 and 6 h postoperatively. This is the first study in which dry packs have been compared with wet and absent packs.

CONCLUSION

Based on our findings, the authors recommend against placing hypopharyngeal packs for the purpose of preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting.