Background: nasal packing after septoplasty is usually done for hemostasis

Objective:  to compare between septoplasty with trans- septal suturing and septoplasty with merocel packing

Patients and methods: eighty eight patients with deviated nasal septum causing persistent nasal obstruction were included in the study. They were randomly divided into two equal groups; group A included patients where septoplasty with trans- septal suturing was done while group B patients had septoplasty with merocel packing.  Comparison  was done regards surgical time, post-operative pain, bleeding, hematoma, synechiae formation and septal perforation

Results: significant difference (p value < 0.00001) between group A and group B was noticed as regards surgical time and post-operative pain while both groups showed no difference regarding incidence of hematoma, synechiae or septal perforation.  There was no significant difference between both groups as regards post-operative bleeding

Conclusion: Trans- septal suturing is a good alternative to nasal packing after septoplasty that offers shorter surgical time, less pain and more comfort for the patient post operatively.

Keywords: septoplasty, hematoma, nasal packing