Nasal Packing Techniques in Septal Surgery
Summary
Septal surgery, most commonly septoplasty, relies on intranasal packing to secure haemostasis, stabilise septal flaps and prevent postoperative complications such as haematoma and synechia formation. Traditional packing materials range from gauze strips to synthetic sponges; while effective at controlling bleeding, they frequently induce discomfort, sleep disturbance and airway obstruction. Innovations over the past decade have focused on minimising patient morbidity by refining packing materials—such as absorbable sponges with integrated airways—and by developing alternatives that offer internal stabilisation without bulky tamponade. Techniques such as trans-septal suturing and intranasal splints substitute mechanical compression with precise flap apposition, reducing mucosal trauma and postoperative pain. Recent work has also explored device-based solutions, including septal clips paired with conforming splints, which aim to combine rigid support with ease of application and removal. Beyond patient comfort, research now examines systemic impacts of nasal packing on vital signs, highlighting the importance of balancing surgical efficacy with physiological tolerance.
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Nasal Packing Techniques in Septal Surgery publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nasal packing techniques in septal surgery across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Intranasal packing: Material placed inside the nasal cavity to apply pressure to septal surfaces for haemostasis and flap support after septal surgery.
Trans-septal suturing: A haemostatic technique in which septal mucoperichondrial flaps are approximated and secured by sutures passed through the nasal septum instead of using packing.
Septal clip with splint: A device combining a small clip that attaches to the septal cartilage and an internal splint to stabilise the septum without full-length packing.
Merocel sponge: A synthetic polyvinyl alcohol sponge used as nasal packing that expands on contact with fluid to exert uniform pressure on septal tissues.
References
- Nasal Packing in Septal Surgery: A Narrative Review. Cureus (2023).
- Comparison of Trans-septal Suturing Technique With Polyvinyl Alcohol Sponge-Based Nasal Packing for Hemostasis in Septoplasty. Cureus (2022).
- Intranasal pressure splints - a reliable alternative to nasal packing in septal sur. Bangladesh Journal of Otorhinolaryngology (2012).
- Effects of Nasal Packing on Patients’ Post-operative Vital Signs. Cureus (2024).
- Merocel versus a new septal clip with splint in post septal surgery cases: a prospective study. The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology (2024).
- Comparison of complete nasal packing with and without integrated airways. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (2023).
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