Bacteremia during open septorhinoplasty

In this study, we aimed at determining the incidence of bacteremia during septoplasty and open septorhinoplasty. The study included 60 patients (30 septoplasties and 30 open septorhinoplasties). Preoperative nasal cultures from the nasal cavity and vestibule were taken by using swabs, and blood cultures were obtained from peripheral veins preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. Blood cultures were evaluated by using the BACTEC method. Neither the blood cultures taken preoperatively nor those obtained postoperatively was positive for any organisms. On the other hand, although the bacterial growth was observed in only one of the blood cultures (3.3%) taken intraoperatively during septoplasty, it was observed in four blood cultures (13.3%) obtained intraoperatively during open septorhinoplasty. Our data indicate that a transient bacteremia occurs during open septorhinoplasty. Although this bacteremia is transient and it has not led to any clinical manifestations in our patients, the possibility of bacteremia during this surgery should be kept in mind and necessary precautions should be taken preoperatively in patients with a high risk of cardiovascular infection.