[Comparative study on packing with or without Merocel after endoscopic sinus surgery].

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) often requires endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).
• Postoperative nasal packing is a common practice after ESS.
• The necessity and impact of nasal packing require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical efficacy of nasal packing versus no packing after ESS.
• To compare short-term and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing ESS.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 112 CRS patients undergoing ESS.
• Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving nasal packing and those not.
• Clinical effects were assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), nasal bleeding quantification, and the Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22).

Main Results:

• The non-packed group reported significantly lower VAS scores for nasal obstruction, pain, and other symptoms (P < 0.05).
• Nasal bleeding within 48 hours post-ESS was significantly lower in the non-packed group (median 2 ml vs. 3 ml, P = 0.00).
• No significant difference in SNOT-22 scores was observed between groups at six months post-ESS (P = 0.56).

Conclusions:

• Managing CRS without nasal packing post-ESS is safe and practical.
• Non-packing reduces short-term patient discomfort and minimizes nasal bleeding.
• Long-term clinical outcomes are comparable between packed and non-packed groups after ESS.