title: Pneumocephalus after insertion of an inflatable nasal tampon for the management of epistaxis.
abstract: While the fundamental principles of epistaxis management have not changed over the decades, the methods by which tamponade is achieved have been evolving. Inflatable nasal tampons are being used and seen with increasing frequency in our ENT clinic. They are usually placed by emergency department personnel, who then refer patients to our clinic for removal. The classically described complications of nasal packs are induction of the nasopulmonary reflex, toxic shock syndrome, and discomfort. In this article, we describe a case of pneumocephalus following placement of an inflatable nasal tampon. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of pneumocephalus after placement of an inflatable nasal tampon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina Memorial Hospitals, 170 Manning Dr., Ground Floor, Physician Office Building, CB #7070, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. kimplead@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kimple
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013630:Tampons, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin