Post SMR intranasal packing - do we really need it?

Sub mucous resection [SMR] for the deflected nasal septum [DNS] is the commonest nasal surgery all over the world. The unpleasant part of the whole event is postoperative nasal packing for 24 to 48 hours. Handsome numbers of patients delay the operation just to avoid the horrible experience of nasal packs by close friends or relatives. Many a times there is no bleeding at all on termination of operation but we still do nasal packing for the sake of doing it perhaps a fear of reactionary or primary bleed on the back of our mind. A variety of packing materials are being used most of which are not evidence based. This study was conducted at combined military hospital, Lahore over a period of one and half year from June 2006 to December 2007. A total of 72 patients were included in the study having moderate to marked deflection of nasal septum. All patients underwent classical SMR operation under local anesthesia. Only 04 patients were given nasal packs on termination of opearation. All patients were closely monitored for in 02 to 03 hours post operatively. All patients were seen on 2[nd], 5[th] and 15[th] day. 65 [90.27%] patients had no problem. 02 [2.7%] patients reported back with 24 in hours with septal haematoma. The operation was terminated in 01 [1.3%] patient just at the time of incision