981 Management of Epistaxis During The COVID-19 Pandemic Our Experience

Epistaxis is a frequently encountered emergency by ENT services. With the COVID-19 outbreak, examination and procedures on the upper airway may put otolaryngologists at increased risk of infection. ENT UK released new guidance for the management of epistaxis during COVID-19 pandemic to safely manage epistaxis and reduce admissions. We report our experience in managing epistaxis using a locally approved protocol using this guidance. Method Prospective audit of management and outcomes of patients presenting to acute ENT services at a large teaching hospital with epistaxis over a 3-month period. Results 58 patients attended with epistaxis. Various management strategies were used with 50% managed with non-absorbable packing. 15 cases required admission only 8 solely due to epistaxis. Only 5 cases (8.6%) reported re-bleeding within 30 days with one case (1.7%) requiring readmission. Conclusions The current guidance appears to be a safe and effective method for managing epistaxis and minimising the number of admissions which may lead to a permanent shift in epistaxis management.