Tranexamic Acid Dosage for Topical Treatment of Anterior Epistaxis

This randomized, double-blinded, phase-4 study was conducted in a single center between July and December 2022.

Among the patients aged 18 years and older who applied to the emergency department with epistaxis that accepted to participate in the study and could give written consent, patients with posterior epistaxis, with a history of nose or pharynx surgery in the last 3 months, with facial and head trauma, with unstable vital signs, patients who applied for the second time with a recurrent bleeding, patients with a history of allergy to TXA, patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, patients with coagulation disorders such as hemophilia, hereditary telangiectasia, von Willebrand disease, etc., patients with thromboembolic disease, history of convulsions or intracerebral processes, and those who were pregnant or lactating, and who wished to withdraw from the study at any stage of the study were excluded from the study. 152 patients who did not meet the exclusion criteria were included in the study.

In this study, 3 different materials used to soak the gauze in nasal packing with gauze application, which is a treatment method for anterior epistaxis, were compared in terms of their superiority. Physicians and nurses participating in the study were given a total of 2 hours of theoretical and practical training on the design of the study and nasal packing application before the study. First, those who met the study criteria and accepted to participate in the study and whose written consent was obtained were assigned to one of the treatment groups according to the next randomization number. Treatment groups were determined as;

1. Group: Gauze soaked with 1000 mg TXA-topical
2. Group: Gauze soaked with 500 mg TXA + 5 cc saline -topical
3. Group: Gauze soaked with 10 cc of saline-topical. The research products, saline and tranexamic acid ampoules containing 250 mg/2.5 ml of injectable solution, both in colorless, odorless, clean, and clear liquid form. The medications and medical supplies (gauze soaked with saline and TXA) to be used in the treatment according to the randomization number were prepared by a physician and a nurse working in the emergency room that were informed about the research priorly. Blindness was ensured by filling all groups to a 10 cc volume with saline. The prepared ANP and medication administration were performed blindly by another emergency physician. Pressure was applied to both sides of the nose wings during the application for 10 minutes. Another researcher, who was not responsible for the preparation and administration of the medication, recorded the data in the Case Report Form (CRF). It was checked whether the bleeding continued at the 5th and 10th minutes after ANP and medication administration. In cases of bleeding lasting longer than ten minutes, one of the standard treatments used in epistaxis treatment (Sponge-shaped nasal tampon or inflatable balloon-shaped nasal tampon) was applied as salvage therapy, and otorhinolaryngology consultation was requested when necessary. In addition, patients were followed up for at least 1 hour in terms of possible side effects. Demographic data (age, gender), vital signs, use of anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet drugs, hemoglobin (Hgb), platelet (Plt), and International Normalized Ratio (INR) values of the cases, data of the applied procedure (5th and 10th minute bleeding control, necessity of salvage therapy), treatment-related side effects (administration site reaction, rash, rash, itching, erythema, urticaria, hives, chest pain, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, blackout, headache, dizziness), the need for otorhinolaryngology consultation, and whether recurrency developed within 24 hours was recorded in the CRF. Participants were advised to inform the principal investigator by telephone if recurrent bleeding occurs within 24 hours and to apply to the emergency department again in case of recurrent and/or prolonged bleeding.

The primary outcome of the study was bleeding control at the 5th and 10th minutes. Secondary outcomes were determined as the need for salvage therapy, recurrent bleeding within 24 hours, the presence of side effects, and the need for otorhinolaryngology consultation.