The effect of anterior nasal packing with airway tubes on pulmonary function following septoplasty

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effects of nasal packing with airway tubes on pulmonary function following septoplasty. Materials and methods: Fifty patients who were operated for nasal septal deviation between 2006 and 2008 were included in our study. Nasal packs with airway tubes were used for all patients following septoplasty. Pulmonary function tests and PO2 measurements with pulse oximetry were performed preoperatively and in the second postoperative day just before removal of the nasal pack. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1), FEV 1/FVC (FEV1%), Forced Expiratory Flow (FEF 25-75%), and PO2 values were compared. Results: The mean age of study population was 35.3 ± 12.6 years (range : 18 - 64). There was no significant difference found regarding - FVC: 4.2 ± 0.9 vs. 4.1 ± 0.9, FEV1: 3.5 ± 0.8 vs. 3.5 ± 0.9, FEV 1%: 85.3 ± 9.3 vs. 83.6 ± 10.7, FEF25-75%: 4.1 ± 1.5 vs. 4.0 ± 1.6, PO2: 98.3 ± 0.8 vs. 98.2 ± 0.5 between preoperative and in the second postoperative day just before removal of the nasal pack (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The results indicate that nasal packing with airway tubes is not a cause for post-operative respiratory dysfunction and hypoxia. © TÜBİTAK.