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A comparative study of calcium sodium alginate (Kaltostat®) and bismuth tribromophenate (xeroform®) packing in the management of epistaxis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

J. A. McGlashan*
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lewisham Hospital and the Moorgate Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London.
R. Walsh
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lewisham Hospital and the Moorgate Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London.
A. Dauod
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lewisham Hospital and the Moorgate Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London.
A. Vowles
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lewisham Hospital and the Moorgate Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London.
M. J. Gleeson
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Lewisham Hospital and the Moorgate Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London.
*
J. A. McGlashan, ENT Department, Guy's Hospital, SE1 9RT.

Abstract

A prospective study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of calcium sodium alginate fibre (Kaltostat®) to petrolatum gauze impregnated with bismuth tribromophenate (Xeroform®) for the control of epistaxes that require hospital admission.

Forty patients presenting with severe epistaxis requiring hospital admission were treated with either Kaltostat®r Xeroform® nasal packs. Allocation to either treatment group was made randomly. The composition of each group in terms of age, sex distribution, aetiology of epistaxis and severity of bleed was not significantly different.

There was no significant difference in the efficacy or patient acceptability of either therapeutic agent. It is concluded that calcium sodium alginate fibre should be considered as an acceptable alternative to traditional gauze packing.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1992

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