ear, nose, and throat disorders
How To Treat Anterior Epistaxis With Nasal Packing
Warnings and Common Errors When Treating Anterior Epistaxis With Packing
Do not open the nasal speculum laterally or use in an unsupported manner. (Brace a finger of the hand holding the speculum on the patient's cheek or nose.) Insert the sponge or balloon straight back, parallel to the floor of the nasal cavity, not angled upward parallel to the contour of the nose. Avoid bunching gauze in the anterior nasal passage; if nearly the full 180 cm (72 inches) of prepackaged gauze could not be inserted, it was probably not inserted deeply enough. When using inflatable balloon devices, avoid excessive inflation (particularly of bilateral devices) because this can cause pressure necrosis of the septum. When removing an inflatable balloon device, be sure to deflate it completely before removal. 