A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF NASAL PACKING WITH AND WITHOUT AIRWAY ON EUSTACHIAN TUBE DYSFUNCTION

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the rate of Eustachian tube dysfunction of nasal packing (NP) without airway and NP with airway after nasal septal surgery. Methods: This study was carried out on both ears of 56 patients who underwent nasal septal surgery. The patients were divided equally into two groups. Two different NP, with and without airway, were applied to these groups. Tympanometry was performed before and after the surgery to measure the middle ear pressure and pressure values were used as a parameter to assess the Eustachian tube function. Results: Eustachian tube dysfunction was observed in 43 (38.3%) out of 112 ears. In group one, wherein NP with airway was performed, decreased middle ear pressure was detected in 16 ears (28.5%). On the other hand in group two, which included NP without airway, decreased middle ear pressure was detected in 27 ears (48.2%). In 17 ears negative middle ear pressure returned to normal values 24 hours after the NP was removed. In 15 ears the values returned to normal in 5 days and in the remaining 11 ears this period was 6 weeks. Conclusion: It is concluded that NP with airway is preferable in order to reduce Eustachian tube dysfunction due to NP after septal surgery. Key Words: Eustachian dysfunction, Nasal packing, Septum surgery.