Pharyngeal packing effects in elective nasal surgeries: a randomized controlled double-blinded trial

Researchers conducted a study to determine whether pharyngeal packing during elective nasal surgeries decreases postoperative sore throat (POST) and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The study recruited 99 patients, aged 15 to 60, who underwent elective nasal surgeries. The patients were randomly assigned to three groups: nasopharyngeal packing, oropharyngeal packing, or no-packing.

POST was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at 6 hours, 24 hours, and 10 days after surgery. PONV was evaluated using the Rhodes nausea and vomiting score at 6 hours and 24 hours postoperatively. At 24 hours postoperatively, patients who received oropharyngeal packing reported a higher VAS score compared to those who received nasopharyngeal packing (p = 0.048). Furthermore, at 6 hours postoperatively, oropharyngeal packing was associated with a higher Rhodes score than nasopharyngeal packing (p = 0.027).

Oropharyngeal packing was found to result in higher POST scores compared to the no-packing group (p = 0.011), but this effect was not statistically significant at any specific time point. Both POST and PONV scores decreased significantly over time. Additionally, the study discovered that female patients had a higher incidence of PONV compared to male patients.

The findings of this study suggest that pharyngeal packing may not provide any benefit in protecting against POST or PONV during elective nasal surgeries. The research was registered retrospectively and conducted by multiple departments and hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The study did not receive any funding or financial support.