Does Type of Pharyngeal Packing during Sinonasal Surgery Have an Effect on PONV and Throat Pain?

OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem that affects up to 30% of all surgical patients after general anaesthesia, which increases in sinonasal surgery due the very potent emetic effect of ingested blood that is swallowed during the procedures. Therefore, a hypo/oropharyngeal packing is commonly placed in an effort to prevent blood ingestion. The primary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 3 packing types in preventing PONV and to compare the results with patients who received no packing. The secondary aim was to compare the postoperative throat pain in all 4 groups. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective double-blind randomized controlled study. SETTING: A university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, 201 adult patients scheduled for sinonasal surgery were randomized to 4 groups to have dry packing (n = 52), packing soaked with water (n = 48), packing soaked with chlorhexidine gluconate and benzydamine hydrochloride (n = 51), or no packing (n = 50). Postoperative PONV and throat pain were assessed. RESULTS: Demographic data, procedural characteristics, and PONV risk scores were similar among groups. The PONV incidences, throat pain scores, and analgesic use were comparable in all 4 groups. CONCLUSION: Despite commonly used practices, usage of different types of pharyngeal packing did not affect incidence of PONV and throat pain, nor did usage of no packing.