Study of Outcome of Quilting Sutures in Septoplasty without Anterior Nasal Packing in Comparison to Only Anterior Nasal Packing Using Ribbon Gauze.

Septoplasty is a routinely done procedure to correct the deviated nasal septum. Nasal packing is primarily used to control bleeding in epistaxis as well as endonasal surgery. This study aims to compare complications such as pain, bleeding, septal hematoma, and synechiae formation using Visual Analogue Score in the patients undergoing Septoplasty with anterior nasal packing with roller gauze smeared in antibiotic ointment and Quilting suture without anterior nasal packing. The study is a prospective comparative study among 50 patients undergoing Septoplasty who were randomly allotted into 2 groups of Quilting suture and anterior nasal packing. It was observed that the pain experienced by ANP patients' Median value was 7.0 which was significantly greater than the pain experienced by Quilting suture patients' median value of 4.0 on VAS and nasal blockage within 24 h post-operative period among ANP patients' VAS score median was 6.0 which was significantly greater than that experienced by patients undergoing Quilting suture, median being 3.0. The rate of synechiae formation was significantly lower in patients undergoing quilting sutures. It was found that a Quilting suture is more comfortable for the patient as it is less painful for the patient in comparison with anterior nasal packing with ribbon gauze smeared in the antibiotic ointment.