Keywords: epistaxis, epidemiology, clinic presentation, treatment

Abstract: This article shows the charts of 145 pacients hospitalized between January 1990 and December 1994 with epistaxis. The patients were hospitalized in cases of severe epistaxis with clinic repercussion, epistaxis with hypertension, epistaxis without control or others major clinical pathologies. Pacients ages ranged from 1 to 86 years, usually males and in the sixth decade of life. Associated factors were: arterial blood hypertension, tobbaco, alcohol use and nasal trauma. The period of hospitalization was less then four days in 68.6%. The treatment established was: anterior (46.1%) or anteroposterior (53.9%) packing; electric cauterization in six cases; internal maxillary artery ligation (one case) or embolization (one case). This study was able to determine several factors that lead to severe epistaxis and good results with conservative management.