title: Duration of nasal packs in the management of epistaxis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of nasal packs for 12 and 24 hours in the management of epistaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combined Military Hospital, Nowshera and Heavy Industries Taxilla Hospital, from October 2012 to April 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 patients presenting with epistaxis were selected and were divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Patients in both the groups were managed by nasal packs. In group-A packs were removed after 12 hours while in group-B after 24 hours. Symptoms of headache, lacrimation and recurrence of bleeding were recorded. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis and p-value less than 0.01 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significant difference for headache between removal of nasal packs after 12 hours and 24 hours (p < 0.001). There was significant difference for excessive lacrimation at 12 and 24 hours (p = 0.001). No significant difference was observed for recurrence of bleed when nasal packs were removed at 12 and 24 hours (p = 0.317).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duration in removal of nasal packs after 12 or 24 hours made a difference in the management of epistaxis. Symptoms of headache and excessive lacrimation were significantly higher when nasal packs were removed after 24 hours. It is recommended that patient could be managed with lesser duration of packs after episode of epistaxis to avoid inconvenience.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Nowshera.
authors.forename: Nasir Akram
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Heavy Industries Taxilla Hospital, Taxilla.
authors.forename: Mohsin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013630:Tampons, Surgical; D013997:Time Factors