EFFECT OF NASAL PACKING ON THE RESPIRATION

Effect of nasal packing on respiration as studied mainly from the view point of blood gas analysis and respiratory rate. The subjects were fifteen patients underwent SMR, conchotomy and turbinectomy because of longlasting nasal obstruction and/or headache. All of them were packed in the nose after operation. As a control grcup, six patients, who were operated for chronic otitis media, chronic tonsillitis, and cervical lymphncde pathology, were tested. No nasal packing was placed on this group. Blood pCO2 was measured one day before the operation and 24 hours after the operation. In addition, respiratory rate was counted prior to the operation and also on the next morning of the operation. After statistical study on the changes of pCO2 and of respiratory rate in these two groups, the following results were obtained; 1) Before operation, pCO2 in the group with nasal obstruction was higher than that in the group free from nasal obstruction. 2) Twenty-four hours after the operation, pCO2 reduced in the group of anterior nasal packing. On the other hand, increase of pCO2 was observed in the group free from nasal obstruction. 3) After the operation, respiratory rate increased in the nasal packing group. However it de-creased in the group with no nasal packing.=