Facilities and Equipment

A thorough evaluation of the anterior nasal cavity can only be achieved with the correct facilities and equipment which, in one study, was found to be lacking in most UK EDs. [7]

Essential items for managing epistaxis are:

• A strong light source
• Suction apparatus
• A combination anaesthetic and vasoconstrictor agent (e.g. lidocaine with phenylephrine)
• Nasal speculum
• Method of cautery – either a silver nitrate application stick, or equipment for electrocautery

A typical epistaxis tray is shown in the image below.