Epistaxis Flashcards

1
Q

Causes of epistaxis (nose bleed)

A

Local (usually unilateral):
- Idiopathic causes
- Trauma to Little’s area (eg. nose picking)
- Trauma to base of skull
- Inflammation: Rhinosinusitis
- Tumour: JNA, NPC, SCC (rare)
- “Vascular nipple”/Mucosal arteriovenous malformations
- Carotid blowout syndrome

Systemic (usually bilateral + other systemic bleeding):
- Hypertension, severe/uncontrolled
- Anticoagulant drugs (e.g. Aspirin, warfarin)
- Coagulopathy (e.g. thrombocytopenia, haemophilia, vWD, leukaemia, DIC)
- Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

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2
Q

Blood supply of the nose

A

A) Branches of external carotid artery and internal carotid artery

ECA:
- Sphenopalatine artery***
- Greater palatine artery
- Superior labial artery
*angioembolisation can be done

ICA:
- Ophthalmic artery -> anterior ethmoidal artery, posterior ethmoidal artery
*angioembolisation not recommended, surgical ligation

B) Kiesselbach’s plexus at Little’s area
- Anteroinferior part of nasal septum where many branches terminate and anastomose to form rich network of blood vessels
- Very close to nostrils where mucosa is prone to trauma and drying from cold air (area breaks down and underlying blood vessels bleed)
- Common place for nose bleeds

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3
Q

“Vascular nipple”/Muscosal arteriovenous malformation

A

Looks like a polyp sticking out → Poking at it will cause pulsatile bleeding

Classically spontaneous unprovoked unilateral heavy epistaxis, stops spontaneously

Common, benign, episodic, unknown cause

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4
Q

Trauma to base of skull

A

Base of skull fracture
- Results in bleeding from dural sinuses, torn ethmoidal arteries and torn nasal mucosa (vs bleeding from nasal fracture is usually self-limited)
- A/w significant head injury

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5
Q

Inflammation: Rhinosinusitis

A

Blood stained discharge rather than fresh red blood with greenish/yellowish discharge

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6
Q

Tumour: NPC***

A

Rarely presents with epistaxis unless very large
Blood stained oral secretions* &/or blood stained nasal secretions (rather than fresh blood because only surface of tumour will bleed) + clear discharge

  • “I will spit out blood when I clear my throat in the morning”
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7
Q

Tumour: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA)

A
  • Adolescent male presenting with unilateral large volume epistaxis and persistent nose block
  • Super vascular tumour that sits near nasopharynx: DON’T biopsy, radiological diagnosis
  • Locally aggressive but not cancerous
  • High risk of recurrence as many leave some tumour behind due to difficulty of resection
  • A/w sinusitis, OSA
  • Otological cx: OME
  • Surgery with pre-op embolisation
  • RF ablation
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8
Q

Carotid blowout syndrome

A
  • NPC post radiotherapy
  • ICA usually protected from nose environment by anterior temporal bone, bone can be eroded away by a tumour (NPC)
  • Sudden massive bleed due to bone erosion and destruction by primary tumour and RT
    *If untreated by RT, less likely carotid blowout as NPC protects carotid artery until RT shrinks tumour and leaves ICA exposed to environment/sinusitis
  • May rupture 2nd or 3rd time
  • Tx: Internal carotid artery embolization (Main risks (30%): Blindness, stroke)

“Massive epistaxis and bleeding from mouth, suddenly stops, patient comes to ED with blood stained clothes”
- “Have you had NPC before and you were treated for it?”

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9
Q

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia

A
  • Autosomal dominant inheritance (rare) *check FAM Hx
  • Telangiectasia/spider nevi on skin and inside nose, mucosa
  • Visceral arteriovenous malformations
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • GI bleed
  • Tends to have spider naevi from young all the way to adulthood
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10
Q

1st line management for epistaxis

A

Basic, @GP/polyclinic settings/home:
A. Epistaxis first-aid
- Sit up, lean forward
*eldery who are frail and feel more comfortable/safer lying down, then it is ok to just lie down
- Firm digital pressure on the fleshy part of the nose (not the bridge) for 10-20 min
- Avoid swallowing the blood: irritate stomach and vomit
- Apply an ice pack on the nasal bridge
- Suck on ice cubes –> Vasoconstriction of the greater palatine artery

B. Topical nasal decongestant
- Oxymetazoline: alpha adrenergic agonist
- Good for small volume bleeds

C. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) cautery
- must flush with NaCl saline after to stop the burning

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11
Q

2nd line management for epistaxis

A

ENT, scope
- Thorough endoscopic examination
- Hemostatic material/electrocautery after LA given to mucosa
- Packing
a) Anterior packing
~ Start with anterior packing first whether you think it’s anterior or posterior bleed
~ Compressed sponge (Merocel*) or Bismuth Iodine Paraffin Paste (BIPP)
b) Posterior packing
~ If anterior packing fails
~ Add Foley’s balloon catheter or Gauze pack

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12
Q

Complications of using Foley’s balloon catheter

A
  • Alar pressure necrosis from catheter pressuring on single point –> Applying padding to spread pressure
  • Toxic shock syndrome from S. aureus from FB –> Cover with Abx (Clindamycin/ Penicillin)
  • Discomfort and interferes with patient’s breathing
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13
Q

3rd line management of epistaxis

A

Invasive
- Bleeding from ICA branch: can only do examination under anaesthesia and surgically ligate ethmoidal arteries
- Bleeding from ECA branch: angioembolisation, EUA and surgical ligation of sphenopalatine artery

*30% risk of stroke in carotid artery embolisation e.g. in carotid blowout

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