Polyurethane Versus Chitosan-Based Polymers Nasal Packs After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blinded Study.

Background: Different packing materials are applied to the nose at the end of surgery to maintain drainage and sinus ventilation of the paranasal sinuses and avoid some complications such as bleeding, infection, crustations, adhesions in the middle meatus and lateralization of the middle turbinate.

Objective: The study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of two absorbable packing materials, the synthetic polyurethane, and the naturally occurring Chitosan-based polymers (CBP) nasal packs, after functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Methods: Fifty patients with bilateral chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polypi were operated with 100 surgical cavities. At the end of the surgery, one side was randomly packed with synthetic polyurethane and the opposite side with CBP nasal pack. Measure their outcomes at week 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 as the presence of remnants materials in the middle meatus, crustations, adhesions, bleeding, granulations, infection, and general satisfaction of patients.

Results: CBP nasal pack shows a statistically significant advantage only in the first two weeks as regard remnants material, crusting and bleeding. All over the 12 weeks, there was no statistically significant difference between the two types of packs as regard granulations, adhesions and infection. In the first month, eight patients of the CBP group experienced bad smell and two patients had watery rhinorrhea as adverse reaction without a statistically significant difference. Patients were generally satisfied without a statistically significant difference between the two types of packs.

Conclusion: Synthetic polyurethane and Chitosan-based polymers nasal packs are safe and efficient regarding; the mucosal healing, bleeding control, and the overall satisfaction of patients. The CBP showed a higher statistically significant advantage in the first two weeks only regarding the amount of the retained material, crusting as well as bleeding. Patients packed with CBP experienced fish-like smelly odor and watery rhinorrhea but there is no statistically significant difference.