COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POST-SEPTOPLASTY VENTILATING VERSUS PARAFFIN GAUZE NASAL PACKS ON PATIENT DISCOMFORT AND ANXIETY

Abstract

Objectives: To compare patient discomfort and anxiety in patients after septoplasty with ventilated versus paraffin gauze nasal packing.

Study Design: Comparative Study

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Multan from May-2024 to April-2025.

Methodology: A total of 126 patients who underwent septoplasty were included and were divided into ventilated nasal packing (Group-V) and paraffin gauze nasal packing (Group-P). Patients were assessed for discomfort (through pain visual analogue scale) and anxiety (through HAM-A score) after nasal packing removal at 24-hours after procedure. Intergroup comparison was performed using Mann Whittney U-test.

Results: Median age of DNS patients treated by septoplasty was 37.00 (20.25) years. There were 93 (73.80%) male and 33 (26.20%) female patients. Smoking history was positive in 58 (46.00%) patients. Most common grade of DNS was grade-III present in 31 (24.60%) patients followed by grade-V in 30 (23.80%), grade-VI in 30 (24.60%), grade-IV in 18 (14.30%) and grade-VII in 17 (13.50%) patients. In Group-V, median pain VAS and HAM-A scores were 3.00 (2.00) and 15.00 (6.00) while in Group-P, these values were 5.00 (3.00), (p < 0.001) and 20.00 (5.00), (p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion: Ventilated nasal packing significantly reduces patient discomfort and anxiety in patients after septoplasty as compared to paraffin gauze nasal packing.