A "Tie-Over" Hemostatic Approach in Emergency Department: An Alternative Option for Recurrent Episodes of...

This case series aimed to describe a hemostatic technique that has been applied in patients admitted to emergency department (ED) of a tertiary hospital due to recurrent episodes of intraoral hemorrhage (IOH) after various dentoalveolar operations. The "tie-over" approach involved the intraoral use of Xeroform® gauze (as compressive bolster dressing) and the oral rinsing with a liquid mixture of hemostatic agents.

Between February 1, 2014, and July 31, 2017, we retrospectively reviewed the medical data and records of patients in ED who chiefly complained about IOH. The inclusion criteria were cases secondary to dentoalveolar surgeries that have been exclusively treated by tie-over bolster approach. Data such as frequency and severity of hemorrhage episodes, pain, and discomfort were assessed pre- and postoperatively.

The presented technique was applied in 23 patients, but 20 of them complied with follow-up evaluation. The mean age of those patients was 60.57 years (15-82 years) with a mean follow-up time of 5.05 days. Eighteen patients were taking antithrombotic medications, either per os (oral antiplatelets and anticoagulants-OAA group) or subcutaneously (heparin group). One patient from OAA group and 2 from heparin group experienced in total 4 bleeding events postoperatively. Three of those events were recorded as minimal (oozing) and did not last over 20 min. All the patients declared satisfaction about the non-bleeding oral status.

In addition to its compelling outcomes, we advocate that this approach conferred physiological benefits on patients who visited ED with symptoms of anxiety and malaise, secondary to multiple, lasting, or uncontrolled episodes of IOH related to extensive surgical trauma. The presence of the gauze intraorally was short-term and created minimal discomfort.