The use of polyvinylpyrrolidone for tamponade of the nasal cavity in patients with epistaxis

Abstract

Gauze tamponade of the nasal cavity is one of the most common and affordable ways to stop nosebleeds. To prevent local fibrinolysis, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) powder, which has the properties of a local sorbent, was used. The study involved 2 groups of patients: group 1 included 38 patients who underwent tamponade of the nasal cavity after surgery, group 2 included 52 p patients with spontaneous epistaxis on the background of arterial hypertension. PVP was applied to tampons and also insufflated into the nasal cavity after their removal. The degree of nasal mucosa damage was estimated by the change in mucociliary transport, determined by the saccharin test. There was a decrease in the severity of reactive edema after tamponade and in the frequency of recurrent epistaxis. These effects are explained by the modifying effect of PVP on fibrin thrombus and an increase in the aggregation properties of erythrocytes.