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Instructions for Bleeding After Nasal and Sinus Surgery
Bleeding may occur after any surgery. Usually it will stop in ten to fifteen minutes with no treatment at all . Bloody drainage is to be expected for the first fourteen (14) days after surgery. Simple measures, such as those described below, will usually help control bleeding.
| 1. |
Keep the head elevated. Don't bend over as this only worsens the bleeding. Apply pressure to the nostril on the side of bleeding by pinching the nostril. Pressure should be maintained for 10 - 15 minutes. When active bleeding has stopped, gently blow the nose with both nostrils open to force all clots out of the nose. Squirt four generous puffs of Afrin® nasal decongestant into the nostril, and hold your head back. This spray causes the blood vessels to shrink, and will usually result in control of bleeding. |
| 2. |
If bleeding continues, crushed ice chips may be placed into a moist towel and applied over the bridge of the nose. Continue ice and pressure for up to thirty minutes. Repeat four puffs of Afrin® nasal spray if bleeding continues beyond twenty minutes. |
| 3. |
Keep your head elevated. Sitting upright in a reclining chair is ideal. Do not position your head below your heart or put your head between your legs as this further dilates blood vessels and will likely prolong bleeding. |
| 4. |
When all active bleeding has stopped, you should resume using the salt water irrigations as before. This will keep the membranes moist and reduce crusting. Excessive crusting is often what causes the bleeding. |
Most bleeding will stop with these measures. If these measures fail, please contact our office during business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) for further instructions.
If bleeding can't be controlled, and our office is closed, go to the *emergency room at Baptist Hospital East or Norton Suburban Hospital for further care.
We have learned with years of experience that bleeding cannot be controlled over the phone. If your bleeding is excessive and does not respond to the simple measures described above, you will need to be seen by a health care provider.
*Please refer to Policy for Emergencies & After-Hours Calls
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