The effect on arterial blood gases and heart rate of bilateral nasal packing

In order to elucidate the blood gas and heart rate changes caused by bilateral nasal packing, 21 healthy subjects who had had septoplasty or septorhinoplasty were investigated with pre- and post-operative blood gas measurements and 24-h Holter monitoring. Nasal packing caused a significant decrease in O-2 saturation (P < 0.05), a borderline decrease in PO2 (P = 0.09), insignificant changes in PCO2, pH and HCO3 (P > 0.05), a significant increase in minimum and mean heart rates (P < 0.05) and insignificant changes in maximum heart rates; however, further research is necessary to elucidate the direct cause-and-effect relationship. No serious arrhythmias were observed. Although these changes may be within normal levels for healthy subjects, they may have serious consequences for patients with cardiopulmonary diseases.