The aim of this study is to find the most agreeable and in the long term most efficient treatment for epistaxis.

In the general population epistaxis occurs quite frequently. Approximately 60% of persons will be affected once in their lifetime, and 6% thereof will seek medical advice. Thereby anterior and posterior epistaxis are discerned. Anterior epistaxis is usually located at the Locus Kisselbachii, while posterior bleeds are found further back in the nose. There, most bleeds will originate from the A. sphenopalatina or the A. ethmoidalis.

Different treatment modalities exist. Anterior epistaxis are usually easier to treat than posterior ones. The aim of this study is to find the most efficient treatment. This involves the assessment of long term results and potential sequelae. Existing data will be complemented with information about recurrences and complications. The question is: Which treatment method leads to the least numbers of recurrences in the long term with the fewest long term sequelae?

Secondly, the most agreeable, least painful treatment method is to be identified. Therefore we will send out questionnaires to patients that were treated between March 29, 2007 and April 1st, 2008 at the Zurich University Hospital.

Inclusion Criteria:

All patients treated during the study period with known address and who did not decease in the meantime.

Exclusion Criteria:

Insufficiently filled out questionnaires; Obvious lack of ability to remember (as tested by control questions); Known mental disability

All patients treated between March 29, 2007 and April 1st, 2008 for epistaxis at the ENT Dept. of the Zurich University Hospital