ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy of Merocel nasal package rehydration with tetracaine 0.25% solution, in reducing discomfort of nasal packing removal after septoplasty. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on patients undergoing pure septoplasty. Merocel packing was applied in each side and kept for 2 days postoperatively. Merocel was rehydrated before removal, with 4 mL of saline on one side and 4 mL of tetracaine 0.25% solution on the other side. Patients were asked to evaluate severity of pain during nasal packing removal on each side by a visual analog scale. Patients' data, pain score, and potential complications were placed in a database and statistically assessed. RESULTS: Our series consisted of 141 persons. Statistical analysis showed significant lower pain score in favor of the tetracaine group. No tetracaine complications or side effects occurred. CONCLUSION: Merocel packing rehydration with tetracaine 0.25% solution is an easy, safe, inexpensive, and effective analgesia method for nasal packing removal in septoplasty.
Subject(s)
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage , Formaldehyde/administration & dosage , Hemostatics/administration & dosage , Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy , Polyvinyl Alcohol/administration & dosage , Tetracaine/administration & dosage , Adolescent , Adult , Anesthetics, Local/therapeutic use , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nasal Septum/surgery , Nose/surgery , Pain Measurement , Prospective Studies , Sodium Chloride/administration & dosage , Sodium Chloride/therapeutic use , Solutions/administration & dosage , Solutions/therapeutic use , Tampons, Surgical , Tetracaine/therapeutic useABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare thermal welding tonsillectomy (TWT) with bipolar electrocautery tonsillectomy (BET) procedure. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective randomized study was conducted on 150 consecutive adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Indications included chronic tonsillitis and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Exclusion criteria included peritonsillar abscess history, bleeding disorders, and any other procedure together with tonsillectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to TWT or BET groups. Intraoperative bleeding, operative time, postoperative pain, complication rates, and return to normal diet were evaluated. RESULTS: In the TWT group there was no measurable intraoperative bleeding, while mean bleeding for BET group was 16 mL. No significant difference regarding mean operative time was noticed. Mean postoperative pain score and mean time for return to normal diet were significantly lower in the TWT group. Primary hemorrhage occurred in 1 subject of the BET group. Secondary postoperative hemorrhage was noticed in 1 subject of the TWT group and 3 subjects of the BET group. CONCLUSION: Thermal welding tonsillectomy procedure provides sufficient hemostasis, lower postoperative pain, and quick return to normal diet. EBM RATING: A-1b.
Subject(s)
Electrocoagulation/instrumentation , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/surgery , Tonsillectomy/methods , Tonsillitis/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Chronic Disease , Female , Hemostasis, Surgical , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pain, Postoperative/epidemiology , Postoperative Hemorrhage/epidemiology , Prospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and introduce a new method of tonsillectomy using the Thermal Welding System (TWS). METHOD: The TWS is a new surgical instrument which uses direct heat and pressure to seal and divide tissues. Fifty consecutive patients underwent tonsillectomy with the use of the TWS. Inclusion criteria were chronic tonsillitis, peritonsilar abscess history and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Patients undergoing adenoidectomy or any other procedure together with tonsillectomy and patients with bleeding disorders were excluded. Intraoperative bleeding, operative time, complication rates and return to normal diet were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no measurable bleeding during surgery in any case. No postoperative hemorrhage or other complication occurred. Mean operative time was 23 min. Mean time for return to normal diet was 8.7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The TWS was found quite effective and safe, providing sufficient hemostasis and minimal intraoperative blood loss.
