Evaluation of acute pain syndrome in patients after septoplasty and various anesthetic strategies

The aim of the study was to evaluate acute pain syndrome in patients after septoplasty and various strategies of general anesthesia. Materials and Methods. All patients received local infiltration anesthesia with 2 % procaine solution. In group 1 (n=105), a 2 % solution of promedol and 60 mg of ketorolac were used as evening premedication; in group 2 (n=108), fentanyl, propofol, cisatracuria besylate, tranexamic acid, atropine and metoclopramide were used; in group 3 (n=78), atracuria besylate, sodium thiopental, nitrous oxide and halothane were used. In groups 2 and 3, 100 mg of ketoprofen was injected intramuscularly in the evening of the postsurgical day. Anterior tamponade was carried out with foam tampons. The tamponade was removed on the 2nd day in the groups 1 and 2, and in group 3 it was removed one day after the surgery. Pain syndrome was assessed in 1, 3, and 6 hours, 1 and 2 days after surgery using a visual analogue scale (VAS), a verbal "lightning" scale (VLS), and a numeric rating scale (NRS). Pain was also assessed 1 hour after tamponade removal. Results. At all stages of the examination (except Day 2), the pain syndrome was less pronounced in group 2. A day after surgery, the patients of group 3 had more severe pain if compared with those of other groups. Conclusion. During septoplasty, the least painful reaction is provoked by the general anesthesia scheme as used in group 3: fentanyl, propofol, cisatracuria besylate, tranexamic acid, atropine and metoclopramide. In case of nasal tamponade after septoplasty, the tampons should be removed on the 2nd day after surgery.