Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of lubricating and moistening of
Merocel nasal packs with
glycerol on reducing
pain and
bleeding during nasal packing removal in patients who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery or with
epistaxis. Materials and methods: Fifty patients were included in the study.
Glycerol was used on one side while saline was used on the other side of the same patient as a control. All patients were blinded to which side received
glycerol and which side received saline. In the
glycerol group,
glycerol was infiltrated into the
Merocel packing in the nasal cavity. In the saline group,
0.9% saline solution was infiltrated into the
Merocel packing in the other nasal cavity of the same patient. Both applications were performed 15 min before removal of the packs. The patients were asked to score the severity of the
pain that occurred in both nasal passages according to a visual analog scale (VAS).
Bleeding was recorded as mild (no
bleeding), moderate (leakage), and severe (active
bleeding requiring intervention). Results: The mean VAS score was significantly lower in the
glycerol group than in the saline group (3.02 vs. 4.86, P < 0.05). Although no significant difference was observed between the groups in the amount of
bleeding, lower amounts of
bleeding were seen in the side that received
glycerol. Conclusion: Administration of
glycerol is a cost-effective and easily performed method of
analgesia for nasal packing removal in patients who undergo endoscopic sinus surgery or with
epistaxis.