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An alternative use of the surgical mask for the protection of healthcare workers managing epistaxis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Stephen Gwilym ,
Ruth Armstrong ,
Sujata Kundu  and
Nicholas Steventon
Stephen Gwilym
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Ruth Armstrong
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Sujata Kundu
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Nicholas Steventon
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
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Abstract

Epistaxis has a reported prevalence of 10–12 per cent in the general population and is thus one of the commonest emergencies in Otolaryngology. We suggest that the patient uses a surgical mask to prevent blood spray during epistaxis management. Utilizing the described technique we have found that protective clothing worn by the healthcare professional is consistently ’blood-free’ atthe end of the procedure. This is in contrast to findings when no facemask is applied.

Keywords

EpistaxisDisease ManagementSurgeryMasks
Type
Brief Report
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 118 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 46 - 47
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2004

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