Diode Laser versus Trichloroacetic Acid Local Cauterization for Treatment of Anterior Epistaxis in Children

Background: Epistaxis is one of the most common emergencies detected in the otorhinolaryngology unit. Although it's mostly benign, sometimes it can lead to life-threatening conditions; however, there was no specific local cauterization available for the controlling of little-area anterior epistaxis in children. Objective: To evaluate the outcome of diode laser versus trichloroacetic acid in local cauterization of anterior epistaxis in children. Methods: A prospective randomized comparative study, conducted on 60 children with anterior epistaxis, where the bleeding point was identified in a little area of the nasal septum at the otorhinolaryngology unit, was divided into 2 groups: Group “A” included 30 children treated by diode laser, and group “B” included 30 children treated by trichloroacetic acid (TAC) in a 1-year study duration. Results: The mean age was 10.5±2.2 years in group A and 10.1±2.5 years in group B, with bleeding according to age groups (p>0.05). Most of the children were 10 years old, being 26.66% in group A and 23.33% in group B. Males were 68.33%, and females were 31.67%. The efficacy of local cauterization (yes/no) was significant for males and females (p