Abstract
Objective: Epistaxis is one of the most common reasons for hospital presentation. To our knowledge there is no prior study that addresses the need for routine hemoglobin recheck prior to discharge. This study assesses the hemoglobin change for patients admitted as inpatients in a ENT department at a busy UK hospital.
Method: We retrospectively analyzed records of all adult hospital admissions in a 6-month period between January and June 2009. We included patients with whom at least 2 Hb values were available for comparison.
Results: A total of 42 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty patients were female, 22 male. The age range varied between 65 and 90 years. On average, we measured a Hb drop of 10.22 g/l.
Conclusion: Epistaxis clearly has the potential to affect hemoglobin levels, particularly when severe. Although initial Hb measurement is relevant to assess hemodynamic stability, our data suggest that there is no need for a routine recheck if not clinically indicated. Further prospective research in this area is recommended.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.