Bilateral simultaneous nasal septal cauterization in children with recurrent epistaxis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility, effectiveness and complications of bilateral simultaneous silver nitrate cauterization for anterior nasal septal epistaxis in otherwise healthy children.

METHODS: Prospective study in a tertiary referral otorhinolaryngology department. Thirty-seven children with anterior epistaxis between the ages of 5-16 years were included in the study. The patients who had varicose vessels or network of small vessels in the Little's area had simultaneous bilateral silver nitrate cauterization.

RESULTS: Complete or near-complete epistaxis control was obtained in 76% of the patients after the first cauterization, and in 86% of the patients after the second cauterization in a mean follow-up period of 8 months. Partial success was obtained in five patients. The crusting in the cauterization area was healed late in six patients. Septal perforation, tattooing, or mucocutaneous/allergic reactions were not observed in any of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral silver nitrate cauterization is an effective, feasible, low-cost and preferable treatment method in childhood epistaxis when it is applied in an appropriate concentration and at an appropriate duration in a healthy mucosal environment.