Transseptal Suturing Reduce Patient Anxiety after Septoplasty Compared to Nasal Packing

Abstract

Background: We measured postoperative anxiety in patients who underwent transseptal suturing or nasal packing after septoplasty. Materials and Methods: Transseptal suturing was performed on Group 1 patients and nasal splints with airway were placed after septoplasty in Group 2 patients. Postoperative 48-h anxiety levels of both groups were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) clinical assessment scale, prior to removal of nasal packing in Group 2. Results: Transseptal suturing was performed after septoplasty in 28 patients and nasal packing in 34 patients. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory clinical assessment state (STAI-S) and trait (STAI-T) instruments were used to measure postoperative anxiety. The STAI-S scores were found 35.00 in the transseptal suturing group and 43.8 in the nasal packing group; the difference was found significant (p 0.05). The rate of minor hemorrhage was found 10.7% in Group 1 patients. Conclusions: Transseptal suturing is simple and reliable when performed after septoplasty. The technique is painless and comfortable, and reduces patient anxiety (compared to that associated with nasal packing) with only a minor increase in operating time and hemorrhage.

Keywords

• Septoplasty
• Nasal packing
• Transseptal suturing
• Aanxiety