A randomised prospective trial of trans-septal suturing using a novel device versus nasal packing for septoplasty.

Background: Nasal packing or trans-septal sutures are used to prevent postoperative complications in septoplasty. Trans-septal suturing is not commonly used, since it takes time and is technically difficult with the available devices following septoplasty.

Methods: This study included 64 patients who underwent septoplasty. Following septoplasty, the patients were divided into two groups: group 1 had trans-septal sutures placed using a novel device and group 2 had the nose packed with a tampon. The duration of surgery, postoperative symptoms and complications were compared.

Results: All of the postoperative symptoms were significantly less in the group with trans-septal sutures. The mean duration of surgery was 34.9 minutes in the nasal packing group and 37.8 minutes in the trans-septal suture group, and the difference was significant (p = 0.026). No postoperative bleeding, submucoperichondrial haematomas, infections or abscesses occurred in any of the patients, whilst nasal perforation was observed in one patient in each group. Two (5.4%) patients in group 1 and one (3.7%) patient in group 2 had postoperative adhesions.

Conclusions: We have developed a simple, inexpensive device for performing trans-septal suturing that is easy to use in the nasal cavity. We conclude that the use of continuous septal suturing with our device is an easy modification of the standard procedure, with only a small increase in operating time.