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Anemization of the nasal mucosa is a medical procedure during which the nasal mucosa is treated with vasoconstrictor drugs in order to provoke vasospasm. Anemization of the mucous membrane refers to therapeutic measures that are effectively used for nosebleeds – conditions when blood flows out of the nasal cavity. Nosebleeds occur due to a violation of the integrity of the mucosa and blood vessels that are in it. In addition to blood loss, this unpleasant condition can be accompanied by ringing or noise in the ears, dizziness, and even cause loss of consciousness.
Nosebleeds: signs and causes
Bleeding from the nose always has one mechanism of appearance – a violation of the integrity of the walls of blood vessels in the mucous tissue. Often, epistaxis accompanies inflammatory processes in the mucous membranes, nasal injuries, and can sometimes occur due to blood diseases and vascular pathology.
The main symptom of this condition is the flow of blood in drops or a stream from the nostrils, as well as its flow along the back wall of the pharynx. If the bleeding has a recurrent profuse character, it may be accompanied by: a sharp drop in blood pressure, general malaise, rapid pulse and palpitations. In addition, severe blood loss can be life-threatening.
Approximately 10% of all patients who are hospitalized on the appointment of an otolaryngologist have a history of nosebleeds, which is why they are transferred to the hospital.
The etiology of the development of the disease is based on various factors. Injuries to the nasal cavity can be of domestic and industrial origin, they are obtained during traffic accidents, they are caused by the ingress of foreign bodies into the nasal cavities. Mucosal injuries also occur in the process of therapeutic and diagnostic measures – sinus puncture, nasogastric sounding, nasotracheal intubation.
Mucosal congestion is the result of some pathological conditions such as sinusitis, rhinitis and adenoids, and also becomes a factor provoking the development of nosebleeds.
Among other causes of nosebleeds, doctors note the curvature of the nasal septum, atrophic rhinitis, tumor processes – malignant tumors, specific granuloma, angiomas.
More common causes of the development of pathology:
- arteriosclerosis of blood vessels;
- symptomatic hypertension;
- malformations associated with increased blood pressure;
- hemorrhagic diathesis and blood diseases;
- avitaminosis;
- sun and heat stroke;
- some acute infectious diseases;
- sudden changes in atmospheric pressure;
- hormonal disorders.
The mechanism of treatment of nosebleeds
After the otolaryngologist diagnoses bleeding and establishes the cause of its occurrence, it is necessary to take measures to eliminate it. The first thing to do is to stop the blood and compensate for its loss. The next step is the treatment of the underlying disease and the elimination of the causes of blood loss.
Depending on the type of bleeding, the measures to eliminate it may differ. So, allocate:
- front;
- back bleeding.
Anterior blood loss develops in the region of the Kisselbach zone, which has a high density of blood vessels. In this place, a large accumulation of small blood vessels is covered with a mucous membrane, but does not have a submucosal layer. Usually, the anterior type of bleeding does not provoke profuse blood loss and stops on its own.
The posterior type of pathology is localized in the deep parts of the nasal cavity, where large blood vessels are located. Posterior bleeding causes major blood loss and threatens the life of the patient. It is impossible to cope with such a pathology on your own.
Anterior nosebleeds are usually stopped by application of cold. In addition, it is recommended to press the nostril or insert a cotton ball into it for 10-15 minutes. Anterior nostril tamponade is also performed.
Bleeding that is localized in the posterior parts of the nose requires posterior tamponade, and in difficult cases, surgical intervention. The attending physician may prescribe electrocoagulation of blood vessels, cryodestruction or anemization of the mucosa.
Indications and contraindications for anemization
The appointment of the procedure occurs when the doctor diagnoses the following conditions in the patient:
- nosebleeds that are not eliminated in other ways;
- ethmoiditis;
- chronic and acute rhinitis;
- frontitis;
- sphenoiditis;
- sinusitis of the maxillary sinuses;
- otitis.
Usually, anemization is carried out in combination with other physiological procedures, for example, puncture of the maxillary sinuses, or catheterization – getting rid of mucus from the sinuses using a catheter.
As for contraindications, anemization is not carried out if the patient is in a serious condition, if he has an individual intolerance to vasoconstrictor drugs, as well as diagnosed with dangerous pathologies of the hearing or respiratory apparatus.
The procedure for anemization of the nasal mucosa: the essence and technique of carrying out
Mucosal anemization is relevant for both posterior and anterior nosebleeds. The procedure not only helps to stop the blood, but also reduces the swelling of the mucous tissue. Due to the narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels, it is possible to reduce blood loss.
Anemization is a treatment of the mucosa with special preparations. The effect on tissues lasts no more than 2 minutes. Preparations based on ephedrine and adrenaline, for example, Xylometazoline or Naphazoline, are applied by spraying, injecting, applying, lubricating the pathological mucosa. Strengthening the effect is achieved through the use of cotton or gauze swabs, which are soaked in the preparation and inserted into the nostrils.
After anemia, the patient may feel excessive dryness of the mucous membrane – in this case, the doctor may suggest the use of a special moisturizing spray or cream.
If the bleeding is stopped and does not recur, the procedure can be called successful.
Anemization is a procedure that is prescribed for heavy nosebleeds to stop them, and helps prevent significant blood loss, a drop in blood pressure and a general deterioration in the patient’s well-being. Bleeding from the nose can be complicated by dizziness, tinnitus, and even a sharp decrease in vision. Acute blood loss of the anterior or posterior type is successfully eliminated by treating the mucous tissue with vasoconstrictor drugs. As a result, the cavities of the vessels that are in the mucous layer decrease in diameter, the mucosal edema subsides, and blood flow stops. In addition to bleeding, the procedure is relevant for otitis, frontal sinusitis, rhinitis and some other pathologies associated with circulatory and respiratory disorders.