Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Series Editor: Francis B. Quinn, Jr., MD, FACS -- Archivist: Melinda Stoner Quinn, MSICS
Introduction
Most common Otolaryngologic emergency in the U.S.
Presents in 7-14% of general population each year
Severity ranges from mild to life-threatening
Anterior bleeds>Posterior bleeds
Males>females
Winter>summer
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Outline
Vascular Anatomy
Etiology
Management and Treatment
Non surgical
Topical
Cauterization
Packing
Blocks
Surgery/IR
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Vascular Anatomy
Epistaxis primarily originates from the lateral nasal wall
or the septum
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This is a latex injected human skull that shows the extensive vascular anatomy of
the nose. There are rich supplies of anastomoses between the internal and
external carotid artery.
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The next slide shows FLOWCHART of the nasal circulation
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Lateral Nasal Wall
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Woodruffs Plexus
Located below posterior end of inferior turbinate
Consists primarily of anastomoses of branches of
the internal maxillary artery: Posterior nasal,
sphenopalatine, and pharyngeal artery
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Septum
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Kiesselbachs Plexus
AKA Littles Area
Located 1.5cm behind the anterior mucocutaneous
junction
Area responsible for the majority of nose bleeds
Consists primarily of anastomoses of the superior labial
artery, anterior ethmoid artery, greater palatine artery,
and posterior nasal artery
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Septum
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Sphenopalatine Artery
Supplies the majority of blood supply to the nose, particularly the posterior portion
Anatomical position is very important due to need for possible ligation in the case of
refractory posterior bleeding
The sphenopalatine foramen is bounded superiorly by the body of the sphenoid, the anterior
border the is the orbital process of the palatine bone, the posterior border is bounded by the
sphenoidal process of the palatine bone, and the inferior border is bounded by the
perpendicular plate of the palatine bone.
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Etiology
Local Systemic
Trauma: digital, fractures Hypertension
Nasal sprays Vascular disorders
Inflammatory reactions
Blood dyscrasias
Anatomic deformities (i.e.
septal/spur) Hematologic malignancies
Foreign body Allergies
Intranasal tumors Malnutrition
Chemical irritants
Alcohol
Nasal prong (O2)
Drugs
Infections
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Local Causes
One of the most common causes of nose bleeds, particularly in
children, is digital trauma to the nasal mucosa. Nasal sprays are often
the culprit as well as the force of the spray creates damage to the
epithelium of the nasal septum. For this reason patients should be
educated to direct the spray away from the septum and instead towards
the lateral wall. Anatomical abnormalities can cause local trauma as
well. Septal deviation can often lead to crusting on the side of the
deflection, which leads to excessive nose picking and/or nose bleeding.
If the removal of crusting becomes habitual, the continuous trauma can
cause a septal ulcer to form, thus reducing blood supply to that are of
cartilage and resulting in a septal perforation. The perforation itself may
crust, thus leading to a chronic cycle of crust removal and subsequent
bleeding. Foreign bodies are a less common cause of epistaxis and are
more common in small children. These patients present with a
unilateral, bloodstained and foul-smelling (due to anaerobic infection)
discharge.
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Local Causes
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Local Causes
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Systemic Causes
Hypertension: controversial
Systematic review by Kikidis et al. found no causal link
between hypertension and epistaxis
Confounding factors such as age or anticoagulation
medications
Individuals with altered clotting abilities are also more likely to develop hypertension.
Medications implicated in epistaxis include aspirin, clopidogrel, NSAIDs, and warfarin.
Inherited blood diatheses are also associated with epistaxis and include hemophilia A and
von Willebrand disease.
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Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
AKA Osler-Weber- Rendu disease
Autosomal dominant
Widespread cutaneous, mucosal, and visceral
telangiectasias (arteriovenous malformations) in the
brain, lungs, liver, and gut
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HHT
For more moderate to severe cases of HHT, particularly those in which the
patient has a septal perforation, nasal dermoplasty with a STSG is an option.
Laser treatment for vessel photocoagulation is another option this can be
done using a KTP laser. A newer treatment is the use of intranasal
Bevacizumab, a human monoclonal VEGF inhibitor. This treatment was
introduced in response to past studies demonstrating that HHT patient have
elevated plasma and mucosal levels of VEGF. Of note, Bevacizumab cannot
be used on the cartilaginous septum as this may lead to septal perforations.
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HHT Epistaxis Treatment
Avastin
On the left is a picture of the cuts that would be made prior to skin
replantation in nasal dermoplasty. A small anterior and posterior V-shaped cut
of the septal cartilage is made prior to replanting skin.
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HHT Epistaxis Treatment
The next slide shows a flowchart for the treatment and
management of epistaxis.
History
Physical exam
Establish site of bleeding
Stop the bleeding
28 Treat the cause
Initial Management
The patients hemodynamic status should then be evaluated. If the
blood pressure is elevated the patient may require with volume
resuscitation with a crystalloid such as normal saline.
If the patient has lost more than 30% of their blood volume or is
hemodynamically unstable blood products may be infused. If the
blood pressure is elevated the patient may require an
antihypertensive agent such as a beta blocker.
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Physical Exam
Protect yourself from blood contamination
Anterior rhinoscopy
Suck out any clots
Endoscope exam if necessary
Identify area of bleeding
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Physical Exam
Before beginning the physical exam, protective equipment such as a
cap, gown, mask, and eye protection should be utilized.
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Treatment
Non surgical
Topical
Cauterization
Packing
Blocks (i.e. transpalatine)
Surgery/IR
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Treatment
A stepwise approach should be followed in the treatment of epistaxis.
Non-surgical treatments should initially be pursued including topical
treatment, cauterization, nasal packs, and blocks. These treatments
will generally stop the bleed 90% of the time.
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Cauterization
Chemical: Silver nitrate with greasy antiseptic
Thermal: Bipolar suction diathermy
Consider injecting local anesthetic if the vessel is
sizable before using the bipolar
After cauterization advise patient to:
Avoid nose blowing for at least 1 week
Apply greasy antiseptic barrier ointment three
times a day for 1-2 weeks by applying to nasal rim
and massaging up
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Cauterization
Silver nitrate can be a very effective treatment. The area of the bleed should first
be dried with suction this allows better penetration of the silver nitrate into the
mucosa. When silver nitrate is combined with water it forms nitric acid, which is a
highly corrosive acid that acts as a cauterization agent.
Following any form of cauterization, the patient should be advised to avoid nose
blowing for 1 week and to apply a greasy antiseptic barrier ointment such as
Bacitracin to the nose three times a day. It is important to tell the patient not to
apply ointments with their finger or a q-tip, as this can cause further trauma and
rebleeds. Instead the ointment should be applied to the rim of the nose and
massaged upwards.
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Nasal Packs
Intranasal device which applies constant local pressure
Anterior, posterior, or anterior and posterior
Foreign body TSS, apnea, alar necrosis,
hemodynamic changes, discomfort
Systemic or topical antibiotics
Precautions to admit patient with comorbidities to ICU if a
posterior pack is placed
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Nasal Packs
Nasal packs are intranasal devices that function by applying constant
local pressure to an area of bleeding. They have similar efficacy to
bipolar cauterization.
There are anterior packs, posterior packs, and anterior and posterior
packs. Nasal packs are a foreign body and as such have several
iatrogenic complications including toxic shock syndrome, sleep
apnea, alar necrosis, hemodynamic changes, and patient discomfort.
There are a multitude of nasal packs that are available on the market.
There is no validated guidelines on whether to give patients with
packs prophylactic systemic antibiotics versus topical antibiotics
alone. Recent studies have found that topical antibiotics alone may
be sufficient in most case of epistaxis, particularly those patients with
anterior packs alone.
Ribboning gauze
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Anterior Nasal Packs and Gels
See the next slide for examples. On the top left is a standard merocel foam
pack which expands upon contact with fluid. The top middle picture is the
bioresorbable Meropack. This is highly advantageous in a setting where a
patient is likely to be lost to follow-up. On the top right is a standard
Merocel with an airway built in. This is great for patient comfort and for
apnea. The bottom left is a picture of Nu Gauze packing strips. The
bottom middle picture is of Floseal which is a hemostatic matrix that
contains high concentrations of thrombin and can be injected at this site of
bleeding. Its major advantage is that it can conform to abnormal
geometric surfaces, allows good visualization, and is bioresorbable. On
the bottom right is MeroGel injectable which is similar to Floseal but
instead uses hyaluronic acid instead of hemostatic agents.
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Posterior Nasal Packs
As with anterior packs, there are multiple posterior nasal packs
available. The advantages of these packs over the traditional gauze
pad launch through the oral cavity is patient comfort, the presence of
an airway (in some cases), and transnasal insertion.
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Posterior Nasal Packs
The posterior pack is traditionally placed by threading a
catheter through the nare and into the posterior pharynx.
A tonsil clamp is used to grab the catheter transorally and
pull it out through the mouth.
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Posterior Nasal Packs
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Posterior Nasal Packs
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Dr. Quinns Epistaxis Pearls
There are multiple anectodotal pearls that have also been
suggested in epistaxis management from Dr. Quinns epistaxis
pearls from the Internet.
One is that trichloracetic acid (TCA) is a better alternative to silver
nitrate as a chemical cauterization agent. The argument is that
TCA has a stronger vasoconstrictive effect and can provide deeper
penetration than silver nitrate.
Salt pork has been used as a packing agent it is unknown if this
is more efficacious than regular packing alternatives.
Hot water irrigation has been advocated in the past and is better
tolerated than packs by the patient.
Clot Buster - Additionally, some Otolaryngologists advocate a
hard nose blow to clear clots from the nose. This provides
visualization of the bleeding site while also allowing better
penetration of oxymetazoline or other vasoconstricting
medications. This may in itself stop the bleeding.
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Greater Palatine Injection
Injection into pterygopalatine fossa through greater
palatine foramen
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Greater Palatine Injection
The greater palatine injection offer yet another non surgical
intervention for epistaxis. This method Is often used to reduce
bleeding in endoscopic sinus surgery for both analgesia and control
of bleeding.
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Pterygopalatine Injection
Maxillary Nerve
Greater Petrosal
Deep Petrosal
Sphenopalatine Artery
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Surgery/IR
Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery (SPA)
ligation
Anterior/posterior ethmoidal artery
ligation
Embolization of the IMAX
Transantral ligation of IMAX
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Endoscopic Cauterization of
Sphenopalatine Artery (SPA)
Newer Method Endoscopic
Older method Caldwell-Luc approach
Allows direct cauterization of vessels and is highly
effective as a second-line treatment
Low morbidity
Complications are rare
Fast, not technically difficult
Good alternative to embolization
Highly effective 96-100%
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Endoscopic SPA
Cauterization
Nasal cavity is decongested and 1/% lidocaine with
epinephrine is injected into the mucosa of the laternal
nasal wall adjacent to posterior aspect of middle
turbinate
Small vertical incision is created 1cm anterior to the
posterior aspect of the middle turbinate
Mucoperiosteal flap elevated with Freer, dissection
posteriorly, identification of crista ethmoidalis anteiror to
SPA foramen, identification of SPA
Vascular clip or bipolar cautery is applied to the SPA
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Endoscopic SPA
Cauterization
Endoscopic cauterization involves initial identification of
the membranous posterior fontanelle of the maxillary
sinus by palpating under the bulla ethmoidalis. Junction
between membranous posterior fontanelle and lateral
nasal wall identified incision is made from the
undersurface of horizontal portion of ground lamella of
middle turbinate to the insertion of inferior turbinate on
lateral nasal wall
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Incision
These are intraoperative endoscopic vies of the dissectinon of the SPA behind the
ethmoidal crest. On the left bipolar cautery is being used on the 1st branch of the SPA
below the ethmoidal crest. On the right is the final view of the branches of the SPA
55 after cauterization. The suction is placed in the right sphenoid sinus.
Nasoethmoid fractures -
Anterior/Posterior Ethmoid Bleeds
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Nasoethmoid fractures -
Anterior/Posterior Ethmoid Bleeds
When you see a patient with a nasoethmoid fracture that presents epistaxis
you should suspect that the bleeding is coming from the anterior or posterior
ethmoid. The most common cause of these fractures is motor vehicle
accidents or assault basically any injury that involves impact of the central
face.
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Nasoethmoid fractures
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Nasoethmoid fractures
Nasoethmoid fractures include LeFort I, II, and III
fractures which I have here for review.
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Anterior/Posterior Ethmoidal
Artery Ligation
Can be performed externally
(Lynch incision) or endoscopically
Complications of procedure include stroke, blindness,
ophthalmoplegia, and epiphora
Anterior ethmoid artery is located 24mm from the
anterior lacrimal crest, posterior ethmoid artery is
36mm from anterior lacrimal crest
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Anterior/Posterior Ethmoidal
Artery Ligation
Bleeds from the anterior or posterior ethmoidal arteries are highly
associated with nasoethmoid fractures. These have to be treated
surgically. The most common surgical approach is externally via a
Lynch incision. This consists of a curvilinear incision halfway
between the medial canthus and tip of the nasal dorsum that is
brought down to the level of the periosteum.
An endoscopic approach has also been advocated as well in the
literature as a safe and feasible alternative to the open approach.
Major complications of the procedure include stroke, blindness,
opthalmoplegia, and epiphora. The major surgical landmark in
anterior/posterior ethmoidal artery ligation is the lacrimal crest.
The anterior ethmoid artery is located 24mm from the anterior
lacrimal crest and the posterior ethmoid artery is located 36mm
from the anterior lacrimal crest.
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Embolization of IMAX
Alternative to SPA ligation for control of posterior
epistaxis
Pros
Good for poor surgical candidates
Back-up to unsuccessful surgical ligation
Cons
Requires highly skilled interventional radiologist
Complications are high (i.e. stroke, facial pain,
numbness)
Higher failure rate than surgical ligation
Less cost effective than surgical ligation
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Embolization of IMAX
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Transantral Ligation of IMAX
Older method (more recently replaced by SPA ligation)
Performed via Caldwell-Luc approach
Posterior wall of maxillary sinus is fractured and flaked off
to expose pterygopalatine fossa
Tortuous IMAX is identified and ligated
Cons
High failure rate 11%-20%
High complication rate 14%-20%
Facial paresthesia, facial pain, dental pain and numbness,
hematoma, ophthalmoplegia, blindness
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Caldwell-Luc Approach
Retraction of upper lip and incision of mucous
membrane above teeth
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Faculty Discussion:
Farrah Siddiqui, MD (1)
Dr. Foon that was an excellent talk, on a very important topic, very
relevant to us as we will see it throughout all of our careers, no matter
where we go. The important thing is a lot of time nosebleeds come
into the clinic as postops and you must remind your patients about the
simple things. Most people have the simple reflex to hold the head
back and let all the blood get into the airway column. Its better if they
sit forward and hold constant pressure on the nose and once the
bleeding stops a little bit get the clots out, put some Afrin in there.
This may keep them from coming into the Emergency Room
especially in our postop sinus cases, and even adenoids and
turbinates. Its also important to recognize you can get potentially life-
threatening bleeding even from our postoperative patients.
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Faculty Discussion:
Farrah Siddiqui, MD (2)
Iatrogenically we can cause nosebleeds even with a simple turbinate
reduction can warrant a trip back to the O.R. if its bleeding enough
because you can actually go in and cause injury to the blood vessels
in Woodruffs area and the sphenopalatine branches posteriorly and
maybe during surgery that vessel went into spasm.
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Faculty Discussion:
Farrah Siddiqui, MD (3)
Then the other thing I want to offer as a minor correction, is when you
describe a NOE fracture you said Le Fort one, two and three Le
Fort is more for midface fractures. NOE types ONE TWO and
THREE we dont call them Le Forts. One important relationship you
did highlight in your talk which you guys will probably be asked about
through some question thats coming up was the relationship of the
anterior lacrimal crest to the anterior and posterior ethmoid arteries.
The crest is 34-36 mm. back from the crest in cadaveric dissections.
The posterior ethmoid artery is about 8 mm. posterior to that and
another 2 mm. takes you to the optic foramen and optic nerve. I think
you went over everything very well and you summarized it very well.
Thank you.
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