Epistaxis: prospective evaluation of bleeding site and its impact on patient outcome

To assess impact of site of idiopathic epistaxis on adult patient management and its association with patient demographics and co-morbidities.

The site of epistaxis, patient data, their management and outcomes prior to discharge was recorded prospectively for 100 consecutive eligible adult patients.

Fifty three patients had anterior and 47 patients had a posterior site of bleeding. The site of epistaxis was not related to the patient s age, medical condition or medication.

Most patients with epistaxis can be controlled with nasal cauterisation. However, patients with posterior epistaxis are more likely to need hospital admission, are twice as likely to require nasal packing, and stay in hospital longer. There appears to be no link between the site of epistaxis and patient factors.