Effects of Intraoperative Saline-Soaked Pharyngeal Packing on Nausea, Vomiting, and Throat Pain After Nasal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of intraoperative pharyngeal packing on postoperative nausea, vomiting, and sore throat in nasal surgery patients.

Methods: Databases were searched from inception to December 2022. Randomized controlled trials comparing saline-soaked pharyngeal packing (packing group) with no packing (control group) during intubation in patients undergoing nasal surgery were included. The primary outcomes of interest were the incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and sore throat at 24 hours.

Results: Eleven studies, including a total of 931 patients, were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and severity scores at 2, 6, and 24 hours postoperatively. The incidence of throat pain was higher in the packing group than in the control group immediately after surgery and at 24 hours postoperatively. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the incidence of sore throat at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively.

Conclusion: Intraoperative saline-soaked pharyngeal packing did not significantly decrease postoperative nausea and vomiting. However, the use of pharyngeal packing was associated with a higher incidence of sore throat in the initial recovery period.