CAUSES AND MANAGEMENT OF EPISTAXIS IN THE PANDEMIC TIME OF COVID-19
Nurbaiti Nazarudin1, Iwan Darmawan Ma^mur2

1Departemen Telinga Hidung Tenggorok-Bedah Kepala Leher Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani-Rumah Sakit Dustira, 2Departemen Bedah Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani-Rumah Sakit Dustira

Abstract

Epistaxis is one of the most common emergencies in the ear, nose and throat (ENT) around the world, which often requires hospitalization. About 60% of the population has had epistaxis, and 6% requires serious and life-threatening treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, procedures for dealing with airway problems pose particular risks to health workers due to the high virulence of the virus, transmission via aerosols, and the risk of infection from asymptomatic patients. The purpose of writing this article is to determine the causes and treatment of epistaxis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cause of epistaxis mostly comes from local factors, such as trauma, manipulation of the fingers, use of chronic nasal prongs, vascular disorders in combination with anticoagulant drugs or systemic diseases such as hypertension. Management of epistaxis is usually carried out in an Emergency Room (IGD). The principle of epistaxis management is to improve the general condition, find the source of bleeding, stop bleeding, and look for causative factors to prevent recurrence of bleeding. The way to stop bleeding gradually is with compressive therapy, use of vasoconstrictor drugs, cautery with silver nitrate, anterior nasal tampons, posterior nasal tampons, and arterial ligation. Epistaxis management is a procedure that is often performed in the ER and puts health workers at risk for infection. Specific recommendations must be followed before, during and after the epistaxis management procedure to ensure the safety of health professionals.

Keywords: Epistaxis, COVID-19 pandemic, causes, management

Topic: Clinical Practice in Pandemic Era