Resident Physician University of Alberta, Department of Surgery Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Background: Nasal packing postoperatively following KTP laser surgery for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) has garnered mixed reviews. This purpose of this study was to compare a hemostatic fibrin matrix with traditional nasal packing following this procedure in terms of patient pain and comfort.
Methodology: This was a double-blinded non-inferiority study. Participants were selected from the practice of a single surgeon working in an academic center and randomized to the treatment group (Surgiflo) or the control group (NasoPore). During the first follow-up visit, each subject completed a comfort questionnaire, and a visual questionnaire was completed by the clinician. Non-parametric statistical analysis was employed with a p value of < 0.05 being considered significant.
Results: Fourteen patients were included in each group. The treatment group reported significantly less pain than the control group (p=0.038, S.D. 0.049-1.58 although this was only perceived as significant in the behavioural rating scale. Similar degrees of hemostasis were observed between the two groups. There were no differences observed in the objective measures outcomes.
Conclusion: This is the first study investigating recombinant thrombin as postoperative packing for HHT. Surgiflo hemostatic matrix as nasal packing may offer a more comfortable recovery for the patient than traditional methods following KTP treatment for intranasal HHT.