Epistaxis Flashcards
what can the nosebleeds be and which are less severe
anterior or posterior - anterior are less severe- can be visualised with rhinoscopy
management nosebleeds
resus, ABC, hx, apply pressure pinch lower part of nose for 15 mins, fully decongest, ice pack, silver nitrate cautery
what should you use to decongest
ephedrine 0.5% drops
what should you do if you cant see the bleeding point
refer to ENT
if bleeding continues after cautery what can you do
anterior nasal pack
if bleeding continues after anterior nasal pack what should you do
post nasal pack
what can you ask in the hx
which side, trauma?, how much loss, on warfarn
causes/associations
trauma, infection, hypertension, dyscrasia/haemophilia, alcohol intake incr, septal perforation, neoplasm
if it restarts what is the advice
hold ice pack to bridge of nose and hold continuously for 20 mins
anterior epistaxis what is the anatomy
septal. Littles area- Kiesselback plexus.
what arteries are involved in anterior epistaxis
anterior ethmoidal, sphenopalatine, facial arteries
what is the management of a serious posterior epistaxis
examination under anaesthesia- if bleeding point found treat with diathermy, if not then repacking.
what is the gold standard of a posterior epistaxis
ligation- maxillary/sphenopalatine arteries
