A Study on 312 Cases of Epistaxis

Abstract

A clinical study of 530 patients with epistaxis seen during the past 5 years (2014–2019) is reported. In particular, we report the data of 312 patients who were seen by otorhinolaryngologists. It occurred more frequently in males than in females (male:female ratio, about 2:1). Epistaxis occurred more frequently in the winter, with fewer cases seen in the summer. The most frequently encountered site of bleeding was the Kiesselbach’s area (46.0%). Overall, half of the patients were treated by gauze packing, electrical coagulation successfully controlled the bleeding in 28.9% of the patients, and 11.1% of the patients were treated by balloon tamponade. Re-bleeding was observed in 11.1% of patients. The percentages of patients with hypertension and anticoagulant therapy were significantly lower among patients with re-bleeding who did not require hospitalization than among patients with re-bleeding who required hospitalization. The percentages of patients with bleeding from Kiesselbach’s area was significantly lower in patients with re-bleeding who required hospitalization. The number of patients with re-bleeding requiring no hospitalization was lower as compared to that in 2016. We have been treating patients with suspected bleeding from the posterior area by balloon tamponade since 2016, which, we believe, is the reason for the decrease in the number of patients with re-bleeding who did not require hospitalization. Early treatment is important for the control of nasal bleeding.