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Nasal septum cauterisation
CAUTERISATION OF THE NOSE
Using heat to cauterise your septum will help deal with persistent nosebleeds
Why does a nose need to be cauterised?
Your nose is full of tiny, delicate blood vessels that can be easily damaged and bleed. Sometimes nasal bleeding can come from deeper within the nose. This can happen if you suffer a blow to the head, have had recent nasal surgery, and or your arteries start to harden (atherosclerosis).
If your consultant is are able to identify exactly where the bleeding is coming from, they may carry out a minor procedure to seal the bleeding blood vessel by cauterising (burning) it.
Need to know
Cauterising blood vessels is usually done using a stick of a chemical called silver nitrate. A local anaesthetic will be sprayed into your nose to numb it and the silver nitrate stick will be held against the bleeding point for up to 10 seconds.
Afterwards, your consultant will pack your nostrils with pads in order to stem any post-procedure bleeding. You may be recommended medication to relieve any pain you might experience.
Your consultant will explain any preparations you might need to take. You should remove any jewellery from your nose before arriving for your procedure.
Following your procedure you should avoid the following for 24 hours:
- blowing or picking your nose
- heavy lifting or strenuous exercise
- lying flat,
- drinking alcohol or hot drinks
- removing any crusts that form inside your nose
- sneezing with your mouth closed as this increases the pressure in your nose
- people with coughs and colds
If you have been given an antiseptic nasal cream, once the bleeding stops, this should be applied to the inside of your nostrils several times a day for up to two weeks, to help prevent further bleeding.
Our Nasal septum cauterisation consultants
Professor Paul O'Flynn
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Hassan Elhassan
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Raghav Dwivedi
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Mr Aleix Rovira
Ear Nose & Throat Surgery (ENT/Otolaryngology)
Our Nasal septum cauterisation locations
The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David's gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.