Long Term Results and Complications After Epistaxis Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The aim of this study is to find the most agreeable and in the long term most efficient treatment for epistaxis.

Detailed Description
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In the general population epistaxis occurs quite frequently. Approximately 60% of persons will be affected once in their lifetime, and 6% thereof will seek medical advice. Thereby anterior and posterior epistaxis are discerned. Anterior epistaxis is usually located at the Locus Kisselbachii, while posterior bleeds are found further back in the nose. There, most bleeds will originate from the A. sphenopalatina or the A. ethmoidalis. Different treatment modalities exist. Anterior epistaxis are usually easier to treat than posterior ones. The aim of this study is to find the most efficient treatment. This involves the assessment of long term results and potential sequelae. Existing data will be complemented with information about recurrences and complications. The question is: Which treatment method leads to the least numbers of recurrences in the long term with the fewest long term sequelae? Secondly, the most agreeable, least painful treatment method is to be identified. Therefore we will send out questionnaires to patients that were treated between March 29, 2007 and April 1st, 2008 at the Zurich University Hospital.

Official Title
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Langzeitresultate Und Komplikationen Nach Einer Epistaxisbehandlung

Conditions
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Nosebleed (Epistaxis) - Posterior or Anterior

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: All patients treated during the study period with known address and who did not decease in the meantime. Exclusion Criteria: Insufficiently filled out questionnaires; Obvious lack of ability to remember (as tested by control questions); Known mental disability

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Electric coagulation<br>Patients with anterior epistaxis, treated with electric coagulation | |
| Chemical coagulation<br>Patients with anterior epistaxis, treated with chemical coagulation | |
| Outpatient tamponade<br>Patients with posterior epistaxis, treated with tamponade as an outpatient | |
| Inpatient tamponade<br>Patients with posterior epistaxis, treated with tamponade and kept in the hospital. | |
| Surgery<br>Patients with posterior epistaxis, treated with surgery as inpatients | |
| Foley balloon catheter<br>Patients with posterior epistaxis, treated as inpatients with Foley balloon catheter | |
| Combined treatment<br>Patients with posterior epistaxis, treated as inpatients with a combination of methods | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of patients without recurrence |  | Up to 8 years post-treatment | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Discomfort caused by treatment |  | Up to 1 day post-treatment |