USE OF OXYMETAZOLINE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EPISTAXIS

The purpose of this study was to determine if use of an intranasal vas oconstrictor (oxymetazoline) could be used to effectively treat epista xis, avoiding nasal packing. The charts of 60 patients who presented t o the emergency room with the diagnosis of epistaxis and who required medical management were reviewed. Sixty-five percent of these patients were successfully managed with oxymetazoline as their sole therapy. A n additional 18% were managed successfully with silver nitrate cautery in combination with oxymetazoline. In only 17% of patients was it nec essary to use nasal packing as treatment for epistaxis after an initia l attempt with oxymetazoline alone or in combination with silver nitra te failed. These data suggest that pharmacologic management may be ade quate in the majority of patients with epistaxis, thus avoiding the ne ed for nasal packing with its associated complications.