Comparing the Effect of Topical Lignocaine and Bupivacaine in Nasal Packs for Pain Relief in Post Operative Nasal Surgery Patients

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial compared the analgesic efficacy of lignocaine, bupivacaine, and placebo nasal packs in patients undergoing nasal surgeries, including septoplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). A total of 100 patients, aged 18–60 years, were randomly assigned into three groups: lignocaine (n=34), bupivacaine (n=33), and placebo (n=33). Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) over 24 hours. Additional analgesic requirements, side effects, recovery time, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Bupivacaine provided significantly lower pain scores at all intervals compared to lignocaine and placebo (p < 0.05). The bupivacaine group had a lower need for additional analgesics (39.4%) compared to lignocaine (76.5%) and placebo (81.8%) (p = 0.041). Side effects such as nausea and vomiting were similar across all groups. The bupivacaine group experienced a shorter hospital stay (2.0 days) compared to the lignocaine (2.5 days) and placebo (3.0 days) groups (p = 0.038). In conclusion, bupivacaine-soaked nasal packs offer superior pain relief, reduce the need for additional analgesics, and shorten hospital stays, making it a preferable option for postoperative pain management in nasal surgeries.