OBJECTIVE:To determine the association of Arnica montana and blood loss, surgical field bleeding and operative time in endoscopic sinus surgery among adults with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

METHODS:

Design: Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Setting: Tertiary government hospital

Participants: Forty-one (41) adults aged 19-76 years old with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and meeting inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups, Arnica and control. The former took 5 sublingual Boiron® Arnica montana 30C pellets, 12 hours then 1 hour prior to surgery; the latter did not. Both groups had routine oxymetazoline and lidocaine-epinephrine decongestion. Intraoperative blood loss, surgical field bleeding quality and operative time were assessed by blinded surgeons and anesthesiologists. 

RESULTS: Mean estimated blood loss was 187ml (SD 100.14) for controls versus 72ml (SD 12.59) for the Arnica group; (p < 0.05). Mean operative time was 3.55 hours (SD 1.25) for controls and 3.44 hours (SD 1.57) for the Arnica group; (p=0.9). Surgical field bleeding was graded slight with 75% needing occasional suctioning (grade 2) and 25% needing frequent suctioning (grade 3) in the Arnica group, versus moderate bleeding with more frequent suctioning (grade 4) in 71% and slight bleeding but needing frequent suctioning (grade 3) in 29% of controls.

CONCLUSION: In this randomized clinical trial, Arnica montana was associated with less blood loss and less surgical field bleeding compared to controls, but there was no difference in mean operative times.  Arnica montana may be effective in reducing blood loss and improving surgical field quality during endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.