CMC packing in functional endoscopic sinus surgery: does it affect patient comfort?

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is standard for chronic rhinosinusitis.
• Nasal packing aids healing but causes pain and discomfort.
• Patient comfort post-FESS remains a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) nasal packing's impact on patient comfort after FESS.
• To compare CMC mesh versus CMC gel packing effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Bilateral FESS performed on 40 patients.
• One nasal cavity packed with CMC (mesh or gel), the other left unpacked.
• Postoperative assessment using visual analog scales for pain, obstruction, sleep, and well-being.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in patient comfort between CMC-packed and unpacked sides.
• No significant difference in comfort between CMC mesh and CMC gel.

Conclusions:

• CMC shows potential as an ideal FESS packing material based on comfort data.
• Further investigation of other resorbable packing materials is recommended.
• Identifying optimal packing materials is crucial for post-FESS care.