A comparison of the effects of packing or transseptal suture on polysomnographic parameters in septoplasty

Our objective is to examine the effects of using nasal packing or transseptal suture in septoplasty in young patients, specifically on the polysomnographic parameters in the post-operative period. A total of 43 patients who had undergone septoplasty surgery after a diagnosis of septum deviation were included in the study. Packing was inserted in 23 patients, and transseptal suture was performed in the other 20 patients. A polysomnography test was performed on the patients on the first day after surgery and during the post-operative period. A post-operative increase was found in the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) within both the packing and suture groups. The AHI increase in the packing group was statistically significant (p < 0.05). In the post-operative period, the fall in average oxygen desaturation in the packing group was significantly higher compared to suture group (p < 0.001). In addition, the arousal index was significantly higher in the packing group (p < 0.05). The use of nasal packing in young patients after septoplasty surgery reduced the quality of life after surgery and had negative effects on respiration during sleep. The finding that nasal packing caused obstructive sleep apnea syndrome even in young patients leads us to hypothesise that the effect of the packing on comorbid patients’ respiratory function during sleep would be even more severe.