The effect of nasal packing on arterial blood gases and acid-base balance and its clinical importance

Abstract

Arterial blood samples were taken from adult healthy patients before and 24 hours after bilateral nasal packing. The blood samples were investigated for PO2, PCO2, HCO3, pH and Hb. It was found that there is (i) an increase of high significance of PCO2 and HCO3-, (ii)) a significant increase of percentage of Hb., (iii) a highly significant decrease of PO2 in patients after nasal packing; (iv) as regards the pH, no significant difference was found. What we suggest is that bilateral anterior nasal pack results in hypoxia and hypercapnia due to hypoventilation.