[Sinunasal surgery as outpatient procedure with special consideration of nasal packing - Position paper of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, the working group Rhinology/Rhinosurgery (ARHIN) of the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and German Professional Association of Otorhinolaryngologists].

Abstract

Objective: Currently, there is an intensive discussion on advancing and expanding outpatient rhinosurgical procedures. Many questions about how to stratify into out- and inpatient procedures are still not sufficiently clarified. Particularly, the use of nasal packing materials is not adequately discussed.

Material and methods: Development of a checklist to stratify sinunasal procedures into in- or outpatient procedures with consideration of current scientific literature and risk factors.

Results and conclusions: After comprehensive assessment of the literature and analysis of specific risk factors, a list of sinunasal procedures is presented, which should be performed as inpatient procedures. We present a checklist for in- and outpatient sinunasal procedures, which considers social, medical and surgical factors as well as the use of nasal packing materials. Furthermore, a checklist is added to assess, whether patients are ready for discharge after a planned outpatient procedure.