A Case of Severe Epistaxis during Pregnancy Treated by Sphenopalatine Artery Ligation / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Epistaxis is a common disease encountrered in Otorhinolaryngology; however, life-threatening epistaxis during pregnancy is rare, and there are no specific guidelines regarding the management of such patients. We encountered a 38-year-old female patient in the second trimester of her pregnancy, who presented with nosebleeds. No definite focus of bleeding was identified by nasal endoscopy, thus several conservative measures were used to stop nosebleeds including bed rest with head elevation, ice pack application, and nasal packing. Despite such treatments, nosebleeding continued. Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation was conducted under general anesthesia and the results were successful. In obstetric assessment, there was no evidence of fetal distress. The patient delivered a healthy baby at 40 weeks, and there was no recurrence of epistaxis through postoperative 18 months.