Epistaxis
Outpatients | Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.
Pre-referral work-up
History
All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:
- Trauma (including nose picking), recent nasal surgery
- Anterior or posterior epistaxis on history
- Coagulopathy, anticoagulants
- Nasal obstruction, change in sense of smell, epiphora, diplopia
- Bleeding stigmata over Little's Area/posterior pharyngeal wall/intranasal mass
Tests
- FBE
- Coagulation screen
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
- Direct pressure to nostrils compressing Little's Area
- Prescribe topical bactroban qds to Little's Area for anterior epistaxis
- Silver nitrate (AgNO3) cautery following topical anaesthesia, if not resolving and clinician has previous experience
For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.
Clinic appointments
🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Emergency
🚩 Persistent bleeding despite first aid measures“ refer immediately to ED
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Urgent (Category 1)
🚩 Recurrent epistaxis with no overt cause but associated additional history and items italicised in Evaluation - Category 1 (contact ENT Registrar)
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.
We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
Recurrent epistaxis on background of nasal trauma
Availability
North
Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics
Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227
North West
Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information
South
Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454
To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.