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Objectives: We investigated the effect of postoperatively
applied nasal packing with or without an airway
on partial arterial oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide
( PaCO2) pressures during sleep.
Patients and Methods: The study included 40 patients
(24 men, 16 women; mean age 29 years; range 18 to
60 years) who underwent septoplasty operation. The
patients were randomly assigned to postoperative nasal
packings with (n=20) or without (n=20) an airway. PaO2
and PaCO2 levels were measured during sleep on the
preoperative night and on the postoperative first and
second nights. The findings were compared.
Results: No significant differences were found
between the preoperative and postoperative PaO2 and
PaCO2 levels obtained with nasal packing containing
an airway. However, the mean PaO2 level measured
on the postoperative second night significantly
decreased in patients wearing a nasal packing without
an airway, when compared with the mean preoperative
value and with that obtained from the other group
on the same night (p<0.05). On the other hand,
increases in the mean PaCO2 levels did not reach significance.
In both groups, postoperative PaO2 and
PaCO2 values were within acceptable limits. No signs
of hypoxia or hypercapnia were detected.
Conclusion: To prevent decreases in the PaO2 levels,
the use of nasal packings with an airway seems to be
more appropriate in patients susceptible to hypoxia.