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Abstract Nasal obstruction is the most common complaint in average rhinologic practice, and a deviated nasal septum is the most common cause of nasal obstruction Septoplasty is the main surgical procedure aiming to overcome nasal obstruction Otolaryngologists, mostly pack both nasal cavities with some different types of nasal packing after septoplasty but is associated with many complications such as: post-operative pain, discomfort, worsening of breathing, sleep disorders, mucosal injury, displacement and aspiration of the packing material, allergy, toxic shock syndrome and postoperative infections. So, in our study we evaluated the functional results and complications of trans-septal suturing in comparison with nasal packing following septoplasty. We conducted our study on 64 patients (aged 18-50 years) for septoplasty. At the end of surgery, we divided our patients into 2 groups; group (A) had trans-septal suturing (32 patients) and group (B) had nasal packing (32 patients). Both group were assessed for the following: operative time, post-operative hospital stay, early post-operative complications such as postoperative bleeding, nasal obstruction, epiphora, discomfort in swallowing, sleep disturbance, postoperative pain, postoperative headache, pain, syncope and bleeding during pack removal, septal hematoma, septal abscess, local infection, Late complications such as granulation tissue formation, synechia, septal perforation and nasal deformity and finally the functional outcomes of nasal obstruction were subjectively evaluated using the NOSE Scale. Our results were as follows: The operative time was calculated specifically for trans-septal sutures and for packing, and was longer and statistically highly significant in group A. Postoperative bleeding was more frequent in patients of group A, but it was statistically non-significant. Nasal obstruction, epiphora, discomfort in swallowing and sleep disturbances were more frequent and significant in patients of group B. Postoperative pain and headache was more frequent and highly significant in group B. Pack removal is the worst part of this surgery as it is accompanied by many hazards such as pain, syncope, and bleeding which were statistically significant in group B. Pain was highly significant and one of our patients had psychic pain trauma and insisted on removal of her nasal packing only under general anaesthesia. The postoperative hospital stay for group B was longer than group A and was highly significant. Septal hematoma, septal abscess, local infection, granulation tissue formation, synechia, septal perforation and nasal deformity were statistically non-significant with higher incidence of local infection, granulation tissue formation and synechia in group B. NOSE Scale evaluation of nasal obstruction in both groups pre and post operatively showed improvements in all parameters with better results in group A than group B (p < 0.001). |