Abstract: Objective： To study the effects of reducing nasal airflow by placing a cotton ball in the anterior nostrils on wound healing after endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods： Among 192 patients treated with functional endoscpic sinus surgery, 30 patients who received a cotton ball placed in the anterior nostrils after removing the nasal stents were put in group A. Another 30 patients who did not receive a cotton ball placed in the anterior nostrils after removing the nasal stents in the same period were put in group B. The nasal endoscopic recordings at week 1, 2, 4 and 12 after endoscopic sinus surgery were analyzed. Results： Nasal crusts in group A were obviously fewer than in group B at week 4 after surgery. At week 12, the mucosal edema and cyst formation of the nasal cavity in group A were less than in group B. There were 11 cases with mild adhesions in group A and 22 cases with mild adhesions and 2 cases with severe adhesions in group B. Differences between the two groups were significant (P＜0.05). Patients with severe nasal crusts at week 4 after surgery had more severe adhesions, mucosal edema and cyst formation in the nasal cavity at week 12. Conclusions：Anterior nostril cotton placement after removing nasal stents is a simple and effective method to reduce nasal crust formation, which is a benefit to surgical wound healing for patients after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Key words: Sinusitis, Nasal endoscopic surgical procedures, operative, Adhesion