[Diagnosis and therapy of epistaxis]

Epistaxis is one of the most frequent emergencies in Otorhinolaryngology and occurs in other disciplines, esp. in Oncology, Traumatology and Pediatrics as well. Even the young otorhinolaryngologist should be basically informed about the diagnostic concepts and therapies available for nosebleeding patients. The specialist should be capable to choose between modern and traditional therapeutical options in order to realise a definitive closure of the bleeding source with maximal comfort for the patient and with preservation of functionally important structures. However, even for the specialized rhinologist it can be difficult to overview the tremendous variety of the different therapies and diagnostical procedures. This article is a compressed review of both the traditional guidelines and the more innovative methods concerning epistaxis. Additionally it deals with the vascular anatomy of the nose and the pathophysiology of epistaxis.