Comparative outcomes of using fibrin glue in septoplasty and its effect on mucociliary activity

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of fibrin glue to prevent complications and nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC) after septoplasty compared with a nonabsorbable packing requiring removal (polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] sponge).

Prospective clinical trial with planned data collection.

The study was conducted at Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital.

A total of 44 patients, who had septoplasty operations, were included in the study. We evaluated postoperative pain, sleep disturbance on the night of surgery, bleeding, septal hematoma, synechia, infection, and MCC values in the fibrin glue and PVA sponge groups.

The pain scores in the fibrin glue group were significantly lower than in the PVA sponge group (P < 0.01). A statistically significant difference was noted in the number of patients who had mild bleeding in favor of the fibrin glue group (P < 0.05). In the fibrin glue group, 95.7 percent of patients reported that they had normal sleep; in the PVA sponge group, only 23.8 percent of patients reported normal sleep (P < 0.01). In the fibrin glue group, a significant decrease was noted in postoperative MCC values compared with preoperative values (P < 0.01). However, in the PVA sponge group, a significant increase was noted in postoperative clearance values compared with preoperative values (P < 0.01).

In our series of patients, we have seen no gross complications from fibrin glue usage. Fibrin glue can be readily used in septoplasty; it requires no special treatment, has an adequate hemostatic effect, and appears to promote the regeneration of mucociliary activity of the injured mucosa postoperatively.