Day-case septal surgery under general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia with sedation

Septal surgery (submucous resection and septoplasty) has been performed as a day-case procedure routinely under general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia with sedation at the Ipswich Hospital since 1992. The outcome of the day-case septal surgery over a period of 18 months has been audited. A total of 95 cases were operated on of which 48 were under general anaesthesia (GA) and 47 under local anaesthesia (LA) with sedation using midazolam intravenously. The bleeding rate and overnight admission rate were 10.5 and 11.4 per cent respectively. The bleeding rate was the same in both GA and LA groups. The combination of local anaesthesia and sedation has been found to be safe, effective and acceptable to patients. It is concluded that septal surgery is suitable as a day procedure and that local anaesthesia combined with sedation has a definite place if carried out properly.