Quilting Sutures Technique without Intra Nasal Packing In Septoplasty Surgery

Background: Septoplasty is a common surgical procedure performed by otolaryngologists for the correction of deviated nasal septum. This surgery may be associated with numerous complications. To minimize these complications, otolaryngologists frequently pack both nasal cavities with different types of nasal packing. Despite all its advantages, nasal packing is also associated with some disadvantages. To avoid these issues, many surgeons use quilting suturing technique to obviate the need for packing after surgery. Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of quilting suture technique in preventing complications and decreasing morbidity after septoplasty in comparison with nasal packing. Patients and methods: Prospective comparative study. This study was conducted in the department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, El Hussein University Hospital in Cairo and Damietta University Hospital, Al-Azhar university, From the 1st of March 2017 to the 30th of November 2017. A total of 50 patients aged 16-50 years, undergoing septoplasty, were included in the study. Before surgery, patients were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group (A) with quilting suture technique was compared with group (B) in which nasal packing with Merocel was done. Postoperative morbidity in terms of pain, bleeding, postnasal drip, sleep disturbance, dysphagia, headache and epiphora along with postoperative complications including septal hematoma, septal perforation, crustation and synechiae formation were assessed over a follow up period of four weeks. Results: Out of 50 patients, 30 patients were males (60%) and 20 patients were females (40%). Patients with nasal packing had significantly more postoperative pain (P<0.05) and a significantly higher incidence of postnasal drip, sleep disturbance, dysphagia, headache and epiphora on the night of surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to nasal bleeding, septal hematoma, septal perforation, crustation and synechiae formation. Conclusion: Septoplasty can be safely performed using quilting suturing technique without nasal packing. [Atef A. El-Maraghy, Mohamed A. El-Sharkawy, Mohamed H. Abd El-Azeem, Mostafa M. Shakweer, Ahmed A. Abd El-Bar. Quilting Sutures Technique without Intra Nasal Packing In Septoplasty Surgery. Nat Sci 2017;15(11):153-161]. ISSN 1545-0740 (print); ISSN 2375-7167 (online). http://www.sciencepub.net/nature. 19. doi:10.7537/marsnsj151117.19.