Complications with use of the Epistat in the arrest of midfacial haemorrhage.
Control of midfacial haemorrhage can be difficult, especially in the multiply injured patient, either at the scene of injury, or in the Accident and Emergency Department. The use of Epistats has proven invaluable in this setting. Potential problems exist with their use and this is illustrated with examples, together with strategies for overcoming them. A summary of the didactic method of safe use of this life saving technique is insert the Epistat, aiming for a fingertip placed at the soft palate;inflate the posterior cuff;withdraw the Epistat slightly, to position the posterior cuff within the nasal choanae;inflate the anterior (intranasal) cuff.
Holmes
S
S
Specialist Registrar in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Barts and The London NHS Trust, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, E1 1BB, London, UK.
Coghlan
K
K
McAllinden
P
P
Hardee
P
P
Chan
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed