Epistaxis Flashcards
6 complaints of the nose
blocked runs reaction to irritation \+/- smell pressure/pain bleed
5 functions of nose
smell filtration humidification airway warming
which important artery in posterior nose?
sphenopalantine
describe typical anterior nose bleed?
not much blood, unilateral
where does sphenopalantine come from?
Maxillary»external carotid
describe a posterior nose bleed presentation?
bilateral, felt something run down back of throat, then exploded with blood out nostrils
who is more susceptible to posterior bleeds? why?
elderly due to comorbidities, warfarin? HTN, athersclerosis
2 local causes of epistaxis?
trauma: Macro/Micro
vessels: more flow, abnormal vessels
3 kinds of systemic causes epistaxis?
atherosclerosis
coagulopathies
hypertension
3 steps for examination
General: well or unwell
Vital Signs
System specific: scoping
first thing to think of in an unstable epistaxis patient?
airways! Is there a clot in the back of their throat
you can lose up to how much of your blood and be relatively normal?
15-20%
behavioural treatments of epistaxis?
avoid tiggers, diet, humidifier
what is something changes in resus setting during circulation?
go back to Airways and reassess
where to put pressure in epistaxis?
soft part of nose