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EPISTAXIS
Kibatu Gebre (BA,BSC,MSC)
Introduction
 A very common health problem
 60% of patients have at least one episode of epistaxis in their life time
 Most are self limited and treated conservatively
 Requires meticulous and individualized approach
 Incidence increases during dry, cold winter months
Anatomy
 Efficient management of patients with epistaxis requires thorough
knowledge of the anatomy of
the interior aspect of the nose . This includes :
- Blood supply, and
- Mucosal morphology and configuration
Blood Supply
 The nasal mucosa receives its blood supply from branches of both the
internal and external carotid arteries
A. Internal carotid artery

Ophthalmic artery

Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries -supplies superior anterior
nasal cavity
B. External Carotid Artery

1.Internal maxillary artery

Greater palatine and sphenopalatine arteries
2. Facial artery(superior labial branch)supplies inferior anterior nasal
septum
.The posterior and superior nasal septum is supplied by branches of
sphenopalatine, anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries
( kiesselbachs plexus -Little area)
EPISTAXIS
Mucosa morphology and configuration
 Respiratory Epithelium
- Pseudo-stratified columnar ciliated
- interspaced goblet cells
- protective mucus blanket assured by ciliary activity
- abundant network of blood vessels in lamina propria
 Any interference that may disrupt this structural configuration is apt to
end up in bleeding
Types
A. Anterior Epistaxis
B. Posterior Epistaxis
 Appropriate control of epistaxis calls for identification of
the bleeding site
 Bleeding may, however, occur from any other sites
Anterior Epistaxis
 Almost invariably associated with Kiesselbachs Plexus Littles Area
 Results from any process that causes mucosal hyperemia
 Most commonly occurs in children
 Represents 85-90% of all nosebleeds
Posterior Epistaxis
 Majority of it is associated with the sphenopalatine artery Woodruffs
Plexus
 The sphenopalatine artery is sometimes referred to as the artery of the
laryngologist
 Accounts for 10-15% of nose bleeds
 Mostly involves those older than 50
Incidence
 Epistaxis has a bimodal age distribution, most cases occurring before
age 10 and between 45 and 65 years of age
 Serious cases encountered with advancing ages, showing a male
preponderance prior to age 49, the gender ratio equalizing thereafter
Causes
A. Local
- trauma - nasal picking, rhinitis,
nasal fracture
- foreign body in the nose - rhinoliths
- tumors: benign - polyp
malignant - nasal , paranasal sinuses
B. Systemic
- Infection: AFI, typhus, influenza
- Blood Diseases, coagulopathies
 Vascular and circulatory problem: hypertension and arteriosclerosis
 Hereditary: HHT (Osler Rendu Weber Disease)
Clinical features
 Unilateral nasal bleeding (anterior)
 Sensation of blood in posterior throat (posterior)
Evaluation
 Initial assessment
- Airway assessment and CV stability and management with
otolaryngologist consultation
 Hx
- Timing, severity, frequency of epistaxis
- Previous epistaxis, trauma, head /neck tumor and surgery, radiation
therapy, cirrhosis, HIV
- Personal and family for bleeding disorders
- Medications (warfarin, plavix, ASA, intranasal glucocorticoids)
 Coagulation profile ,CBC, Cross match
 P/E
- V/S, mental status, airway
- Examination of the nose
DDX
 Bleeding that is not from the nose but escaping from the nostril (s)
- Nasopharyngeal tumors
- Esophageal varices
- Skull base vascular Injury
Treatment
General Measures
 Get ready basic equipment
 Calm the patient, calm yourself
 Sit up the patient, head bent forward, mouth breathing, pinching alae
of the nose against the septum for 10 minutes
 Advice the patient to blow through the nose
 Cold application - nasal root
 Lower BP, D/C anticoagulant, anti platelates
 IV fluid, blood transfusion
Specific measures
Anterior bleeding
- minor bleeding usually resolves spontaneously prior to clinical evaluation
or making tamponade
 Cautery
- chemical - AgNo4 stick for 10 seconds
- electrical
 Nasal packing
- administer small dose of anxiolytics before insertion
- a synthetic open cell foamed polymer nasal tampon-Merocel≒ is
preferable than traditional gauze packing
 Gauze packing
- ribbon gauze impregnated with petrolatum
 Nasal balloon catheters (Rapid Rhino)
- parental narcotics and anxiolytics prior to insertion
- Soak the catheter for 30 seconds before insertion
 Packing should be followed for 24-48 hrs for recurrence of bleeding
and has a success rate of
90-95%
 Prophylaxis antibiotics
-Amoxycyllin-cavulinate or cephalexin
Posterior Bleeding
 Balloon catheters (e.g Epistat,storz-3100)
- Pre treat with 2% lidocain and oxymetazoline
 Foley catheter-10-14 French size
 Cotton packing
 Vascular Ligation  last option
- Sphenopalatine artery
- Anterior & posterior ethmoid arteries
- External carotid artery
 Hospitalization
- Posterior source of bleed for cardiac monitoring
- Patient with anterior packing who can not be reasonably expected to
return for prompt follow up or who have serious co-morbidities or
concerning symptoms
Complications of Treatment
 Pain and Discomfort
 Cardiopulmonary Failure
 Pharyngeal Stenosis
 Alar or Septal stenosis
 Sinusitis
 Toxic Shock Syndrome
 Aspiration
 Nasal crusting, palatal numbness, Septal perforation
Summary
 Nosebleed may at times turn out to be life threatening!! .Therefore,
effective handling requires:
- All round readiness
- Pre-consideration of potential complications associated with the
designed management
- patience to review therapeutic procedure and to be aware of any
corrective measures
THANK YOU!

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EPISTAXIS

  • 2. Introduction A very common health problem 60% of patients have at least one episode of epistaxis in their life time Most are self limited and treated conservatively Requires meticulous and individualized approach Incidence increases during dry, cold winter months
  • 3. Anatomy Efficient management of patients with epistaxis requires thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the interior aspect of the nose . This includes : - Blood supply, and - Mucosal morphology and configuration
  • 4. Blood Supply The nasal mucosa receives its blood supply from branches of both the internal and external carotid arteries A. Internal carotid artery Ophthalmic artery Anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries -supplies superior anterior nasal cavity
  • 5. B. External Carotid Artery 1.Internal maxillary artery Greater palatine and sphenopalatine arteries 2. Facial artery(superior labial branch)supplies inferior anterior nasal septum .The posterior and superior nasal septum is supplied by branches of sphenopalatine, anterior and posterior ethmoidal arteries ( kiesselbachs plexus -Little area)
  • 7. Mucosa morphology and configuration Respiratory Epithelium - Pseudo-stratified columnar ciliated - interspaced goblet cells - protective mucus blanket assured by ciliary activity - abundant network of blood vessels in lamina propria Any interference that may disrupt this structural configuration is apt to end up in bleeding
  • 8. Types A. Anterior Epistaxis B. Posterior Epistaxis Appropriate control of epistaxis calls for identification of the bleeding site Bleeding may, however, occur from any other sites
  • 9. Anterior Epistaxis Almost invariably associated with Kiesselbachs Plexus Littles Area Results from any process that causes mucosal hyperemia Most commonly occurs in children Represents 85-90% of all nosebleeds
  • 10. Posterior Epistaxis Majority of it is associated with the sphenopalatine artery Woodruffs Plexus The sphenopalatine artery is sometimes referred to as the artery of the laryngologist Accounts for 10-15% of nose bleeds Mostly involves those older than 50
  • 11. Incidence Epistaxis has a bimodal age distribution, most cases occurring before age 10 and between 45 and 65 years of age Serious cases encountered with advancing ages, showing a male preponderance prior to age 49, the gender ratio equalizing thereafter
  • 12. Causes A. Local - trauma - nasal picking, rhinitis, nasal fracture - foreign body in the nose - rhinoliths - tumors: benign - polyp malignant - nasal , paranasal sinuses B. Systemic - Infection: AFI, typhus, influenza - Blood Diseases, coagulopathies
  • 13. Vascular and circulatory problem: hypertension and arteriosclerosis Hereditary: HHT (Osler Rendu Weber Disease) Clinical features Unilateral nasal bleeding (anterior) Sensation of blood in posterior throat (posterior)
  • 14. Evaluation Initial assessment - Airway assessment and CV stability and management with otolaryngologist consultation Hx - Timing, severity, frequency of epistaxis - Previous epistaxis, trauma, head /neck tumor and surgery, radiation therapy, cirrhosis, HIV - Personal and family for bleeding disorders - Medications (warfarin, plavix, ASA, intranasal glucocorticoids) Coagulation profile ,CBC, Cross match
  • 15. P/E - V/S, mental status, airway - Examination of the nose DDX Bleeding that is not from the nose but escaping from the nostril (s) - Nasopharyngeal tumors - Esophageal varices - Skull base vascular Injury
  • 16. Treatment General Measures Get ready basic equipment Calm the patient, calm yourself Sit up the patient, head bent forward, mouth breathing, pinching alae of the nose against the septum for 10 minutes Advice the patient to blow through the nose Cold application - nasal root Lower BP, D/C anticoagulant, anti platelates IV fluid, blood transfusion
  • 17. Specific measures Anterior bleeding - minor bleeding usually resolves spontaneously prior to clinical evaluation or making tamponade Cautery - chemical - AgNo4 stick for 10 seconds - electrical Nasal packing - administer small dose of anxiolytics before insertion - a synthetic open cell foamed polymer nasal tampon-Merocel≒ is preferable than traditional gauze packing
  • 18. Gauze packing - ribbon gauze impregnated with petrolatum Nasal balloon catheters (Rapid Rhino) - parental narcotics and anxiolytics prior to insertion - Soak the catheter for 30 seconds before insertion Packing should be followed for 24-48 hrs for recurrence of bleeding and has a success rate of 90-95% Prophylaxis antibiotics -Amoxycyllin-cavulinate or cephalexin
  • 19. Posterior Bleeding Balloon catheters (e.g Epistat,storz-3100) - Pre treat with 2% lidocain and oxymetazoline Foley catheter-10-14 French size Cotton packing Vascular Ligation last option - Sphenopalatine artery - Anterior & posterior ethmoid arteries - External carotid artery
  • 20. Hospitalization - Posterior source of bleed for cardiac monitoring - Patient with anterior packing who can not be reasonably expected to return for prompt follow up or who have serious co-morbidities or concerning symptoms
  • 21. Complications of Treatment Pain and Discomfort Cardiopulmonary Failure Pharyngeal Stenosis Alar or Septal stenosis Sinusitis Toxic Shock Syndrome Aspiration Nasal crusting, palatal numbness, Septal perforation
  • 22. Summary Nosebleed may at times turn out to be life threatening!! .Therefore, effective handling requires: - All round readiness - Pre-consideration of potential complications associated with the designed management - patience to review therapeutic procedure and to be aware of any corrective measures