Epistaxis and its management: an observational pilot study carried out in 23 hospital centres in France.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to describe the treatment of epistaxis in hospital emergency departments and to identify the principal risk factors for more severe episodes of bleeding.


METHODS
Prospective cross-sectional epidemiological study


METHODS
This study was carried out in 23 hospital centres in France, most of them teaching hospitals. Every patient presenting non-traumatic epistaxis or else associated with hereditary hemangioma during two consecutive and separate 24-hour periods were included.


RESULTS
Fifty patients were included in the study. Nasal bleeding was stopped within 30 minutes for 47 patients. Fourteen patients were hospitalized. The risk factors for severe epistaxis included either copious bleeding or else bleeding for more than 6 hours or patients aged 65 and over. A history of repeated nasal packing and/or taking medication with a known hemorrhagic risk was associated with the amount and duration of bleeding (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors for severe epistaxis should be identified as to improve patient care and avoid treatment failure or useless hospitalization.
Klossek
Jean-Michel
JM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire, Poitiers, BP 577- 86021, Poitiers Cedex, France. j.m.klossek@chu-poitiers.fr
Dufour
Xavier
X
de Montreuil
Claude Beauvillain
CB
Fontanel
Jean-Pierre
JP
Peynègre
Roger
R
Reyt
Emile
E
Rugina
Michel
M
Samardzic
Marina
M
Serrano
Elie
E
Stoll
Dominique
D
Chevillard
Christine
C
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies