Epistaxis

This EM Basic podcast episode, presented by medical students Dylan Norton and David Murphy, delves into the essentials of managing epistaxis (nosebleeds) in emergency medicine. They begin with a patient case and then discuss the assessment, management, potential pitfalls, and current controversies surrounding nosebleeds. The discussion covers identifying risk factors, differentiating between anterior and posterior bleeds, and employing a stepwise approach to treatment, including direct pressure, vasoconstrictors, cauterization, and nasal packing. The speakers also address controversial topics such as the use of prophylactic antibiotics with nasal packing, the potential of tranexamic acid as a treatment, and the relationship between hypertension and epistaxis.