One of the most disturbing problems to the patient after septal surgery is the presence of nasal packing. Postoperative nasal packing use has some advantages and disadvantages. This study was performed to determine whether there's a relation between the duration of postoperative nasal packing and patient complaints. A total of 66 patients undergoing septoplasty or septorhinoplasty were included into the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of nasal packing. The packings in the first group was left in place for 48 hours and for 72 hours in the second group. During this time, the patients were evaluated for the presence of postoperative bleeding, pain, restlessness, oedema, septal haematoma, the need a new packing and evaluated postoperatively at the first month for nasal obstruction, septal perforation, crusting, synechia and heavy nasal secretion. Until the removal of the packings the restlessness was assessed. This parameter showed statistically significant increase in the second group (P<0.05). At time of removal of nasal packings at the end of first month postoperatively, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups (P>0.05).

With these findings, we concluded that the removal of nasal packing as early as possible in the postoperative period should be the choice of procedure.