Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 24, 2025
Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
Outcomes and Complications with Topical Epinephrine in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A Systematic Review and
Nicholas B Nesbitt1, Michael W Noller1, Nora L Watson2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Objective:
To assess the safety and efficacy of topical epinephrine in adults undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).
Data Sources:
PubMed, Embase, and Ovid MEDLINE online databases.
Review Methods:
Non-case report English articles studying the effects of topical epinephrine as the topical vasoconstrictor used in adult ESS were found from the online databases through January 2019. The PRISMA literature selection process was used (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses).
Results:
An overall 2216 articles were identified, with 9 meeting inclusion criteria involving a total of 5043 patients. All 9 studies assessed the safety of topical epinephrine, while 5 examined efficacy. Intraoperative average blood loss (ABL) ranged from 60 to 426 mL. Topical epinephrine concentrations varied from 1:1000 to 1:100,000, and 3 major complications were found for a rate of 0.06%. There were no reports of ophthalmic, orbital, or skull base injury, nor were there reports of cerebrospinal fluid leaks. A meta-analysis was performed on the 4 studies examining ABL. Estimated mean (95% CI) ABL was 119.4 mL (39.1-199.6) in the higher-concentration cohort (>1:10,000) and 372.2 mL (296.8-447.5) in the lower-concentration cohort (≤1:10,000) (P = .001).
Conclusion:
Topical epinephrine is generally safe and provides acceptable hemostasis during ESS, with higher concentrations (>1:10,000) providing improved hemostasis. Caution is advised for its use in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease or in combination with other topical or injected vasoconstrictive agents. More prospective comparative studies are necessary to determine the ideal hemostatic concentration of epinephrine in ESS.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Epistaxis
Etiology
Possible causes of this condition include high blood pressure, trauma, low humidity, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies, foreign bodies, nasal inhalation of corticosteroids or illicit drugs, excessive use of decongestant nasal sprays, facial or nasal surgery, anatomic malformation, tumors, or systemic...
01:29Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
01:13Local Anesthetics: Pharmacokinetics
01:26Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...
01:28Adrenergic Agonists: Mixed-Action Agents
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine lack a catecholamine group, making them less susceptible to degradation by metabolic enzymes. They have increased oral bioavailability and lipophilicity, resulting in a longer duration of action. Their response is reduced by...
01:30Adrenergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses
Emergency and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) applications: Pressor agents increase blood pressure, heart rate, and contractility in shock and organ failure situations. Dopamine can induce vasodilation and stimulate adrenoceptors. Endogenous catecholamines are effective in treating cardiogenic shock. α2-agonists like clonidine can reverse anesthesia-induced hypertension.
Allergies and...