Septoplasty Complications: Avoidance and Management

Comparing hemostatic and adhesion prevention effects of different types of nasal packings used post-septoplasty viz medicated gauze packing, glove finger packing and merocel packing

“…However, it is hemostatic and can prevent adhesion formation. As is known if proper technique is followed during septoplasty , complications can be avoided including moderate to severe epistaxis 4 . Many authors believe that nasal packing postoperatively is not needed if proper technique is followed and should thus be avoided to prevent significant morbidity associated with nasal packing 5,6 .…”

Sphenoid Sinus Injury Leading Pneumocephalus as a Complication of Conventional Septoplasty

“…The surgeon should be aware of pink serous drainage after nasal packing is removed or a diffuse blunt headache if any risk of skull base trauma exists following surgery such as any traumatic forceful application, excessive bleeding or high septal deviation. Coronal and axial paranasal CT scans or Magnetic resonance imaging should be performed immediately and samples from the drainage should be tested for β-2 transferrin as soon as possible (1,14). Meningitis due to ascending infection or encephalosel formation due to pulsation of the brain will be seen in a later period in the case of a misdiagnosis (15).…”

“…Complications, with a rate of 5-60% in different series, are not observed frequently when surgery is performed meticulously with good anatomical knowledge (1).…”

Role of Extracorporeal Septoplasty in Deviated Noses

“…Two follow-up studies were performed in 1995 and 2005.6 A few other authors have reported their cases, but there are still relatively few data about the complications of this surgical technique, especially with further application of some of the technique modifications described by Most [6]. Bloom [7] et al published a review article covering a large number of studies about the complications for endonasal septoplasty. The possible complications from a standard endonasal approach include hemorrhage or septal hematoma (6-14 %), cerebrospinal fluid leak (rare), infection (0.048-2.5 %), overcorrection (2 %), septal perforation (1-6.7 %), adhesions or synechiae (7 %), hyposmia (0.3 %), and aesthetic deformities (4 %-8 %).…”