Epistaxis (Nosebleed)

For at-home care, remain calm and adopt the strategies for controlling an active nosebleed, which include sitting upright, leaning forward slightly, and pinching the soft part of the nose. Avoid lying flat or tilting the head back, as this can result in blood running down the throat. If bleeding persists after 20 minutes despite initial measures, seek medical attention.

Our ENT doctor will usually recommend non-invasive medical intervention, such as the prescription of medication (e.g. topical vasoconstrictors) and nasal packing (inserting gauze or sponge-like materials into the nostrils to apply pressure and stop bleeding).

For severe cases, one or more of the following surgical interventions to correct anatomical contributors to epistaxis may be necessary.

• Endoscopic Sphenopalatine Artery Ligation: This surgical procedure is effective for controlling intractable posterior epistaxis. Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation involves tying off the artery that supplies blood to the nose’s back area. This surgical treatment effectively stops severe nosebleeds that originate from the back of the nose.
• Direct Cauterisation: A surgical technique for posterior epistaxis management. Direct cauterisation refers to using heat or chemicals to seal off bleeding blood vessels. This surgical technique is specifically used through endoscopic methods to treat nosebleeds from the back of the nose.
• Transnasal Endoscopic Sphenopalatine/Posterior Nasal Artery Ligation: Transnasal endoscopic sphenopalatine/posterior nasal artery ligation involves tying off or cauterising the blood vessels at the back of the nose using an endoscope. This approach is part of endoscopic management for nosebleeds originating from the back of the nose.