Surgery | Common Surgical Conditions | Skin Head and Neck Epistaxis

Skin, Head & Neck: Epistaxis
Session Overview
Description
This session outlines the important steps in the management of epistaxis, particularly in terms of recognising and managing anterior and posterior bleeds, and when to refer to an otolaryngologist.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the major blood supply to the nose relevant to epistaxis
• List local and systemic factors that contribute to epistaxis
• Assess and manage a patient with epistaxis in the emergency setting
• Recognise the place of surgical intervention in a select number of patients

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should:

• Revise the anatomy of the nasal cavity

Epistaxis is defined as an acute haemorrhage from the nasal cavity.

It is an extremely common condition with a lifetime incidence of approximately 60%. Of this group, less than 10% require hospital treatment.

Although common in all age groups, epistaxis typically has a bimodal distribution, peaking at children under the age of ten and adults over the age of fifty.

A nose bleed – even a minor one – can often be a frightening event for both adults and children. However, the majority of cases are minor and self-limiting, where patients do not seek nor require medical attention and can be safely managed at home or in the community.