Comparison of the effect of the lidocaine, tetracaine, and articaine application into nasal packs on pain and hemorrhage after septoplasty.

OBJECTIVE

We purposed to compare the effects of certain local anesthetics soaked Merocel nasal packs on hemorrhage and pain after septoplasty.

METHODS

This study is a prospective double-blind study that was done in patients undergoing septoplasty. The study was created with 90 patients. All patients were divided into four groups. The each group was applied 2% lidocaine plus adrenaline, 2% tetracaine, 4% articaine plus adrenaline as study groups or 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl) as control group in their Merocel packs after septoplasty. Verbal analog scale (VAS) was applied to all patients and the amount of postoperative hemorrhage was noted during postoperative period. The statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test and Chi-square test on each patient group at each time point.

RESULTS

The study groups (2% lidocaine plus adrenaline, 2% tetracaine and 4% articaine plus adrenaline groups) had significantly better pain scores versus control group in the 1st, 4th, 8th, 16th and 24th postoperative hours (p < 0.05). The articaine plus adrenaline group had better pain scores than the lidocaine plus adrenaline group, and the lidocaine plus adrenaline group had better pain scores than the tetracaine group in the postoperative first day. Also articaine plus adrenaline group had less postoperative bleeding rate than the lidocaine plus adrenaline, tetracaine and control groups (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the lidocaine plus adrenaline, tetracaine and control groups in terms of postoperative hemorrhage (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Topical articaine plus adrenaline application in the nasal packs can be safely used for less pain and bleeding following septoplasty.