A RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL STUDY OF PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH EPISTAXIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

BACKGROUND Epistaxis is one of the most common emergencies seen in Otorhinolaryngology. It is usually managed with simple conservative measures, but occasionally it can be a life-threatening condition. Immediate action and thorough evaluation is required to effectively manage a case of epistaxis. The objectives of this study are- 1. To analyse the various aetiological factors for epistaxis. 2. To study the examination findings and investigations in relation to epistaxis. 3. To study the methods of management of epistaxis and their outcome in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective descriptive study from Jan 2016 to Dec 2016 involving patients presenting with epistaxis was done in a tertiary care hospital, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya. RESULTS A total of 47 patients were included in this study; 32 were males and 15 were females. The most common cause of epistaxis was hypertension (61.70%) followed by idiopathic (23.40%) and coagulopathy secondary to liver disease (10.63%). Regarding treatment methods, most of our patients required anterior nasal packing (82.97%). Epistaxis was controlled by conservative methods in 76.59% patients. Surgical methods were considered for the rest of the patients. One patient required fresh frozen plasma transfusion for control of epistaxis secondary to coagulopathy. CONCLUSION Excluding trauma, hypertension and coagulopathy secondary to liver disease were the most common aetiological factors among the patients in this study in whom aetiology was found. Anterior epistaxis was more common than posterior epistaxis. Anterior nasal packing was the most common treatment method used in these patients.