Soft tissue damage attributed to the use of tongue depressors as an improvised device to apply pressure to treat epistaxis.

摘要

A majority of epistaxis originates from Littles area. These cases commonly present to accident and emergency departments and are often initially treated with external bilateral nasal pressure. The use of improvised devices that utilise tongue depressors as a clip to apply pressure to the nose has been advocated by some otolaryngologi-stand emergency physicians. The proposed advantage of this approach is that pressure can be applied to the appropriate anatomical structures without the use of the patient's or carer's hands. This technique has raised concern in some who feel that it may be used as a substitute for close supervision by a healthcare professional in a patient who may be elderly and/or actively bleeding.