Effect of packing on nasal mucosa of sheep

The effects of packing with ribbon gauze and neuropatties on the nasal muco sa was assessed using sheep as an animal model. Fourteen sheep either under went ribbon gauze or neuropattie nasal packing. Trauma to nasal mucosa caus ed by ribbon gauze and neuropatties was compared to mucosa on the lateral a spect of the middle turbinate which was not in contact with any packing. Th is tissue was used as a control. Ribbon gauze packing resulted in significa nt loss of 68 per cent of the ciliated surface of the mucosa when compared with the control group with a 15 per cent loss of ciliated surface (p<0.005 ). Neuropattie packing also resulted in significant loss of 50 per cent of the ciliated surface of the mucosa when compared with the control group (p< 0.005). There was no significant difference in loss of ciliated mucosa in t he specimens packed with ribbon gauze or neuropatties (p = 0.25). Nasal packing results in a significant mucosal injury with loss of cilia. T his may influence the mucociliary clearance of the nose in the post-operati ve healing phase. Pre-operative nasal packing should be used circumspectly and if possible avoided.