Why Do Some Doctors Use Packing of the Nose and Others Don't?

Nasal surgeons have used packing of the nose after rhinoplasty and septoplasty procedures for years...the thought being that the compression applied by the packing gauze prevented the dreaded complication of bleeding.

I have not used nasal packing for all of my routine primary rhino/septoplasties for years and occasionally place a septal splint (plastic with holes to breathe thru) with major septal reconstructions. Literature and my personal experience shows that patients who are not packed after surgery are much more comfortable and have less infectious complications that those patients who are packed.

Hope this helps!

Dr. C

During my ENT residency, nearly all patients that underwent nasal surgery were given packing for 1-3 days. During my fellowship in facial plastic surgery (1998), my mentor convinced me it was not necessary. If septal work is performed, a septal quilting stitch is placed: this reduces or eliminates the possibility of a septal hematoma.

Nasal packing breeds infection, causes patient discomfort, and is largely unnecessary for the vast majority of my patients. I don't use it routinely on anyone.

Occasionally (<1%) there is excessive post-surgical nasal bleeding that might necessitate packing.

Good luck with your revision rhinoplasty.

All the best.