Geriatric epistaxis: Management of epistaxis in the geriatric patient group
OBJECTIVE: In this study, given the recent increases in the geriatric population and the consequent impacts on healthcare services, we examined the characteristics of geriatric patients admitted to the emergency department due to epistaxis. METHODS: This retrospective study included 55 patients (33 males, 22 females; mean age: 72±6.8 years; range, 65 to 93 years) with epistaxis admitted to the Cukurova University Emergency Medicine Department and University of Health Sciences Adana City Training and Research Hospital Otolaryngology Emergency Polyclinic between 01.05.2019-01.04.2020. The patients were divided into two groups according to age: Group 1 consisted of patients aged 65 to 75 years; Group 2 consisted of patients over 75. Postoperative bleeding and trauma history were excluded in all patients in the study. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding the rate of hospital discharge (p=1.00). Patients with posterior hemorrhage and posterior nasal tampons required significantly more hospitalizations (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of comorbidities and drug use may cause persistent and recurrent epistaxis. It is necessary for physicians to be more cautious about the use of off-label antiaggregants and anticoagulants.