title: Posterior epistaxis: Common bleeding sites and prophylactic electrocoagulation.
abstract: Posterior epistaxis is a frequent emergency, and the key to efficient management is identification of the bleeding point. We performed a retrospective study of 318 patients with posterior epistaxis treated with endoscopic bipolar electrocautery during a 4-year period. Distribution of the bleeding sites was recorded. Patients with no definite bleeding sites in the first operation were assigned to Group A (n = 39) and Group B (n = 34). Patients in Group A were only observed in the ward. Patients in Group B were given prophylactic electrocoagulation at the common bleeding points. Of the 318 patients, bleeding sites were successfully identified and coagulated in 263 patients. All of them were located posteriorly, with 166 on the lateral nasal wall, 86 on the septum, and 11 on the anterior face of the sphenoid sinus. The rebleeding rate of Group B (8.8%) was lower than that of Group A (38.5%) (p < 0.01).
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital, 83 Fen Yang Rd., Shanghai 200031, PR China.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Xicai
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Limin
authors: L
authors: Guo
authors: Dehui
authors: D
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D059747:Nasal Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D065286:Prophylactic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome