Effects of early postoperative nasal decongestant on symptom relief after septoplasty

• Published in: International forum of allergy & rhinology 2018-12, Vol.8 (12), p.1476-1480
• Main Authors: Dağli, Elif, Ocak, Emre, Mirici, Emre, Kaya, Mesut, Acar, Aydın
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bleeding; Double-Blind Method; Female; Hemorrhage - etiology; Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Humans; Lavage; Male; Middle Aged; nasal decongestant; Nasal Decongestants - therapeutic use; nasal irrigation; Nasal Obstruction - drug therapy; Nasal Obstruction - surgery; Nasal Septum - surgery; Nasal Sprays; Nose; Oxymetazoline - therapeutic use; Pain; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Postoperative Period; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; rhinomanometry; septoplasty; Surgery; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2042-6976; 2042-6984
• DOI: 10.1002/alr.22183

Background A randomized, prospective, double‐blinded clinical study was conducted at a single, tertiary referral center. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of nasal decongestant use in the early postoperative period after septoplasty. Methods After septoplasty, patients who met the study inclusion criteria were randomized into 2 groups to receive either physiologic saline irrigation (saline group) or physiologic saline irrigation plus oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05% nasal spray (saline+oxymetazoline group). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for bleeding, pain, and nasal crusting; Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scores; and rhinomanometric measurements were assessed pre‐ and postoperatively. Results The VAS scores for bleeding and nasal crusting of patients in the saline+oxymetazoline group were significantly lower compared with the saline group (p < 0.005). VAS scores for pain were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). Total nasal resistance and NOSE scores of patients in the saline+oxymetazoline group were significantly lower than in saline group after surgery (p < 0.005). Conclusion The use of nasal decongestant sprays in the very early postoperative period is beneficial to reduce the postsurgical nasal crusting and bleeding symptoms and also for decreasing nasal resistance in this edematous period.