A ‘D.I.Y.’ nasal plug with airway: an alternative approach

Abstract

Conflicts of interest: none declared. Madam, We read with great interest the recent article by Flohr et al.1 describing the use of Merocel® nasal packing with airway as a means of maximizing the contact of skin grafts to the wound bed postoperatively on the nasal tip and ala. The authors are in our opinion, absolutely correct in their assertion that the use of a dental roll for nasal packing is uncomfortable for patients by virtue of the fact that airflow into the nostril is restricted. In an endeavour to make the experience of ‘nasal packing’ as comfortable as possible for our patients, we have for some time been creating our own version of a ‘nasal plug with an airway’ using materials readily available and generally present on the surgical tray. Our technique is illustrated in Figure 1. Local anaesthetic is routinely administered to our patients via a 30‐gauge needle (Fig. 1a). If surgery involves the nasal tip and/or ala, the sterile needle cap is kept on the theatre tray, bathing in antiseptic surgical solution for later use.