To compare the effectiveness of calcium alginate (Algi-pack®)and polyurethane foam (Nasopore®), two types of absorbable packing used for nasal packing after endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

We performed a retrospective chart review of 128 eyes of patients who underwent endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy from January 2008 to July 2016. Algi-pack® was used to pack 42 eyes and Nasopore® in 86 eyes. We compared the two groups in terms of pain on postoperative day 2; the re-bleeding frequency within 1 week; anatomical and functional success rates 3 months after surgery; and the frequencies of postoperative complications including synechiae, granulomas, and membrane formation at 3 months postoperatively.

There was no significant difference between the Algi-pack® and Nasopore® groups in terms of postoperative pain or re-bleeding rate (pain: 73.8% vs. 83.7%, p = 0.38; re-bleeding: 4.8% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.058). There was no significant between-group difference in terms of the formation of synechiae, granulomas, or membranes to 3 months postoperatively (granulomas: 33.3% vs. 29.1%, p = 0.62; synechiae: 1.2% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.21; membranes: 19.0% vs. 12.8%, p = 0.35). The functional and anatomical success rates evaluated 3 months after surgery also did not differ significntly between the two groups (anatomical success: 100% vs. 97.7%, p = 0.32; functional success: 100% vs. 95.3%, p = 0.16).

Algi-pack® and Nasopore® equivalently suppressed bleeding after endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy and did not differentially affect the surgical success rate or the frequency of postoperative complications.