Septoplasty with or without postoperative nasal packing? Prospective study.

UNLABELLED: Anterior nasal packing is carried out in a number of nasal surgeries, especially in septoplasty. However, it is not an innocuous procedure and for this its benefit has been challenged. OBJECTIVE: To assess the need for anterior nasal packing and the quality of life of patients submitted to septoplasty. METHOD: Patients submitted to septoplasty with or without inferior turbinoplasty were randomized to receive or not anterior nasal packing postoperatively. We recorded and compared postoperative data (pain and bleeding). Quality of life was assessed before and after surgery. This is a randomized prospective study. RESULTS: We had 73 patients (37 packed and 36 who did not receive a nasal packing) with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Patients with nasal packing complained more of nasal pain and headache in the immediate postoperative period. Of these patients, 75.7% reported moderate/intense pain upon nasal packing removal. Bleeding was more frequent in those patients who did not receive a nasal packing, and only 1 patient required packing. All the patients enjoyed an improvement in quality of life. CONCLUSION: Septoplasty improves the quality of life of patients with septal deviation and nasal obstruction. Routine use of anterior nasal packing should be challenged for not presenting proven benefit.

Septoplastia com ou sem tamponamento pós-operatório? Estudo prospectivo / Septoplasty with or without postoperative nasal packing? Prospective study

O tamponamento nasal anterior é efetuado num grande número de cirurgias nasais, nomeadamente na septoplastia. Contudo, não é um procedimento inócuo pelo que o seu benefício tem vindo a ser questionado. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a necessidade do tamponamento nasal anterior e a qualidade de vida nos doentes submetidos à septoplastia. MÉTODO: Doentes submetidos à septoplastia, com ou sem turbinoplastia inferior, foram randomizados para a colocação ou não de tamponamento nasal anterior no pós-operatório. Foram registados e comparados os dados relativos ao pós-operatório (dor, hemorragia). A qualidade de vida foi avaliada no pré e pós-operatório. Estudo prospetivo randomizado. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 73 doentes (37 tamponados e 36 não tamponados) com seguimento mínimo de 3 meses. Nos doentes tamponados, a dor nasal e as cefaleias no pós-operatório imediato foram superiores. Destes doentes, 75,7% referiram dor moderada/intensa no destamponamento. Nos doentes não tamponados, a hemorragia foi mais frequente, mas apenas um doente necessitou tamponamento. Houve melhoria da qualidade de vida em todos os doentes. CONCLUSÃO: A septoplastia melhora a qualidade de vida do doente com desvio do septo e obstrução nasal. O uso por rotina do tamponamento nasal anterior deve ser questionado por não apresentar benefício comprovado.

Anterior nasal packing is carried out in a number of nasal surgeries, especially in septoplasty. However, it is not an innocuous procedure and for this its benefit has been challenged. OBJECTIVE: To assess the need for anterior nasal packing and the quality of life of patients submitted to septoplasty. METHOD: Patients submitted to septoplasty with or without inferior turbinoplasty were randomized to receive or not anterior nasal packing postoperatively. We recorded and compared postoperative data (pain and bleeding). Quality of life was assessed before and after surgery. This is a randomized prospective study. RESULTS: We had 73 patients (37 packed and 36 who did not receive a nasal packing) with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Patients with nasal packing complained more of nasal pain and headache in the immediate postoperative period. Of these patients, 75.7% reported moderate/intense pain upon nasal packing removal. Bleeding was more frequent in those patients who did not receive a nasal packing, and only 1 patient required packing. All the patients enjoyed an improvement in quality of life. CONCLUSION: Septoplasty improves the quality of life of patients with septal deviation and nasal obstruction. Routine use of anterior nasal packing should be challenged for not presenting proven benefit.

Long term outcome of otosclerosis surgery.

UNLABELLED: The treatment of otosclerosis is eminently surgical. Good immediate results have been well documented when stapedotomy or stapedectomy are chosen. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess long term audiometric performance after otosclerosis surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: this retrospective study enrolled stapedotomy and partial stapedectomy patients seen at our service with proven hearing improvement after surgery. Forty-one patients (47 ears) accepted the invitation to be reassessed. Audiometry results before and immediately after surgery were compared. RESULTS: the median late follow-up was 11 years. To this date, 49% of the patients had normal hearing or mild dysacusis. Preoperative, postoperative, and late postoperative bone and air pure tone averages were 64.4 and 27.0 dB, 35.6 and 22.3 dB, and 44.1 and 29.5 dB respectively. CONCLUSION: Otosclerosis surgery offers good long term results. Despite the worsening of thresholds, the level of hypacusis ten years after surgery is lower than the levels observed before surgery.

Resultados a longo prazo da cirurgia da otosclerose / Long term outcome of otosclerosis surgery

O tratamento da otosclerose é preferencialmente cirúrgico e consiste na estapedotomia/estapedectomia, cujos bons resultados imediatos estão bem documentados. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar os resultados audiométricos da cirurgia da otosclerose a longo prazo. Desenho: Estudo retrospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Incluíram-se os doentes submetidos à estapedotomia/estapedectomia parcial no nosso Serviço e melhoria da audição pós-operatória comprovada. Convocaram-se os doentes para reavaliação audiométrica e compareceram 41 (47 ouvidos). Compararam-se os valores obtidos com os prévios à cirurgia e do pós-operatório imediato. RESULTADOS: A mediana do seguimento tardio foi de 11 anos. Nesta data, 49% dos doentes tinham audição normal ou um grau de hipoacusia ligeira. Os valores médios dos PTA (Pure Tone Average) aéreo e ósseo, pré, pós e pós-operatório tardio foram 64,4 e 27,0 dB, 35,6 e 22,3 dB e 44,1 e 29,5 dB, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A cirurgia da otosclerose tem bons resultados a longo prazo porque, apesar do agravamento dos limiares, o grau de hipoacusia, 10 anos depois, é inferior ao pré-operatório.

The treatment of otosclerosis is eminently surgical. Good immediate results have been well documented when stapedotomy or stapedectomy are chosen. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess long term audiometric performance after otosclerosis surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: this retrospective study enrolled stapedotomy and partial stapedectomy patients seen at our service with proven hearing improvement after surgery. Forty-one patients (47 ears) accepted the invitation to be reassessed. Audiometry results before and immediately after surgery were compared. RESULTS: the median late follow-up was 11 years. To this date, 49% of the patients had normal hearing or mild dysacusis. Preoperative, postoperative, and late postoperative bone and air pure tone averages were 64.4 and 27.0 dB, 35.6 and 22.3 dB, and 44.1 and 29.5 dB respectively. CONCLUSION: Otosclerosis surgery offers good long term results. Despite the worsening of thresholds, the level of hypacusis ten years after surgery is lower than the levels observed before surgery.