Does Type of Pharyngeal Packing during Sinonasal Surgery Have an Effect on PONV and Throat Pain?

OBJECTIVE Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common problem that affects up to 30% of all surgical patients after general anaesthesia, which increases in sinonasal surgery due the very potent emetic effect of ingested blood that is swallowed during the procedures. Therefore, a hypo/oropharyngeal packing is commonly placed in an effort to prevent blood ingestion. The primary aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 3 packing types in preventing PONV and to compare the results with patients who received no packing. The secondary aim was to compare the postoperative throat pain in all 4 groups. STUDY DESIGN A prospective double-blind randomized controlled study. SETTING A university hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, 201 adult patients scheduled for sinonasal surgery were randomized to 4 groups to have dry packing (n = 52), packing soaked with water (n = 48), packing soaked with chlorhexidine gluconate and benzydamine hydrochloride (n = 51), or no packing (n = 50). Postoperative PONV and throat pain were assessed. RESULTS Demographic data, procedural characteristics, and PONV risk scores were similar among groups. The PONV incidences, throat pain scores, and analgesic use were comparable in all 4 groups. CONCLUSION Despite commonly used practices, usage of different types of pharyngeal packing did not affect incidence of PONV and throat pain, nor did usage of no packing.