Nosebleeds are very common, occurring in 60% of the population; in some patients, nosebleeds are a life-threatening emergency. To stop a nosebleed in the emergency department, doctors usually have to burn the nose (called cauterization) or insert pledgets (called nasal packing) into the nose to apply direct pressure to the bleeding site. Nasal packing can cause pain and discomfort at the time it is inserted in the nose and again when it is removed. In rare cases it can cause a range of complications: minor complications include scar bands in the nose, but serious complications of nasal packing have also occurred, including death. Nasal packing can also present risks to doctors, such as the risk of contracting airborne and bloodborne infections, like COVID-19 and HIV. Tranexamic acid in pill form or given directly into a vein is a medication that is currently used for nosebleeds. This study looks to evaluate if tranexamic acid in powder form sprayed directly in the nose can be used as an alternative to cauterization or nasal packing for the treatment of nosebleeds.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
24
Tranexamic acid powder intranasally
Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGCessation of epistaxis
Number of participants for whom epistaxis ceased after treatment
Time frame: Day 1
Time to cessation of epistaxis
Measured in minutes
Time frame: Day 1
Pain of the treatment
Participants' perception of pain will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain possible).
Time frame: Day 1
Total time in the Emergency Department
Measured in minutes
Time frame: Day 1
Number of participants who returned to the Emergency Department for treatment of epistaxis
Time frame: within the first 24 hours and the first 5 days after treatment
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