Tranexamic Acid Is More Effective Than Nasal Packing for Treatment of Epistaxis

Tranexamic acid is commonly used in the emergency department (ED) for the treatment of traumatic hemorrhage, and some studies have found that it may be useful for the management of anterior epistaxis as well. However, its effectiveness for epistaxis in patients on antiplatelet agents is unknown, and these patients often receive the standard treatment of anterior nasal packing (which is uncomfortable and has potential infectious complications).

These authors performed a randomized parallel group clinical trial to compare tranexamic acid to anterior packing for treatment of epistaxis in 124 patients on antiplatelet agents at two academic EDs in Iran. In the tranexamic acid group, a cotton pad soaked in the injectable form of 10% tranexamic aci…