A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MANAGEMENT OF SEPTOPLASTY WITH AND WITHOUT ANTIBIOTIC COVER POSTOPERATIVELY

Abstract

Objective: The septum is the cartilage that divides the nostrils of the nose. It usually lies in the middle and equally separates the nostrils. However, this is not the case with all. Many individuals have a septum that is uneven, causing one nostril to be bigger than the other. A deviated septum is a severe unevenness. It may lead to health problems including a plugged nose or trouble breathing. The aim of the study was to study role of the antibiotics in post-operative period after septoplasty and to compare complications with and without pre- and post-operative antibiotics. Methods: It was a prospective longitudinal and comparative type study. The present study was carried out on 60 patients with microscopically evident deviated nasal septum and was listed for septoplasty. Patients were divided into three groups: Group A, Group B, and Group C. Alternate patients were randomized in Group A, Group B, and Group C, respectively, with each group is 20 patients. The study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology in Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, during the period of January 2019 to December 2020. Results: The present study included 60 patients among them 39 were male (65%) and 21 female (35%) with a male to female ratio of 1.85:1. In the present study, while analyzing pre-operative NOSE score, it showed that maximum 37 (61.7%) patients showed significant problem (3). Mild (1) and Moderate (2) problem was observed in 8 (13.3%) and 6 (10%) patients, respectively. Severe (4) problem was observed in 9 (15%) patients. Post-operative NOSE score showed a significant improvement after septoplasty in almost every case irrespective of groups. Conclusion: We conclude that infections after elective nasal surgery in healthy patients rarely occur, making routine antibiotic prophylaxis redundant. Patients who are immunocompromised, those with valvular heart disease, or patients otherwise susceptible to infections should receive antimicrobial prophylaxis even for simple procedures, as bacteremia may occur during nasal procedures.