Author: Jonathan D Whittaker / Editor: Jonathan D Whittaker / Reviewer: Michael Perry, Alison Hay / Codes: EP3, SLO1, SLO6 / Published: 02/11/2023
A 56-year-old woman is brought to the Emergency Department (ED) by her husband as she has been unable to stop a nosebleed. Both nostrils have been bleeding for the last hour despite applying pressure to the nose.
There is no history of trauma and she has never had a significant nosebleed in the past. She has had a slight head cold for the last 2 days but is normally healthy with no significant illnesses and she is not taking any medication. She has not noticed any other bleeding or abnormal bruising recently.
A series of routine observations are taken by the triage nurse:
- Pulse 88 / minute regular
- BP 137/88
- Respiratory rate 18 / minute
- Oxygen saturation 97% on air
- Temperature 37.1oC
- Capillary blood glucose 5.7 mmol/l