Retained throat packs: results of a national survey and the application of an organisational accident model

Endoscopic Removal of Throat-Packing Gauze Swallowed During General Anesthesia

“…T hroat packing is commonly placed in the pharynx before starting oral and maxillofacial surgery under general anesthesia to protect the airway from aspiration of blood and surgical debris. 1 Complications such as airway obstruction may arise if any of the throat packing is retained after extubation, 1 and less commonly, swallowing of the throat packing has been reported. 2 We report endoscopic removal of throat packing gauze swallowed during general anesthesia.…”

Nasopharyngeal versus hypopharyngeal packing during sino‐nasal surgeries: Randomised controlled trial

“…Injury to the pharyngeal plexus and swelling of the tongue have also been reported as complications of hypopharyngeal packing . A potentially serious postoperative complication is inadvertently leaving the pack in the hypopharynx after extubation, which can cause airway obstruction . In addition, it has been shown that hypopharyngeal packing does not offer 100% protection from aspiration .…”

“…4,5 A potentially serious postoperative complication is inadvertently leaving the pack in the hypopharynx after extubation, which can cause airway obstruction. 6,7 In addition, it has been shown that hypopharyngeal packing does not offer 100% protection from aspiration. 1 Basha et al 3 and Karbasforushan et al 8 compared the use of hypopharyngeal pack with no pack, and they found that hypopharyngeal packing is associated with a significantly increased incidence of postoperative throat pain.…”

Use of pharyngeal packs in functional endoscopic sinus surgery: A randomized controlled trial

“…Studies have shown that pharyngeal packs can increase postoperative throat pain and can cause aphthous stomatitis . Additionally, pharyngeal packs have been retained postoperatively, resulting in airway obstruction, and in some cases fatal consequences …”

“…1 Additionally, pharyngeal packs have been retained postoperatively, resulting in airway obstruction, and in some cases fatal consequences. 5 A review of pharyngeal pack usage for nasal surgery in 2009 evaluated four randomized controlled trials and found that none satisfactorily addressed the efficacy of pharyngeal packing in terms of PONV. It suggested that further studies be done to confirm best practice techniques.…”