What Causes Excessive Bleeding During a Septoplasty?

Unfortunately, almost all surgery brings with it the possibility for bleeding during, or after the surgery.  This is difficult to predicted as it tends to be somewhat random in many cases.  Some individuals will have a greater predisposition for bleeding due to their medical condition(s).  Those who are on anticoagulants, such as aspirin, motrin, plavix, coumadin will  have a greater propensity for bleeding.  Medical conditions such as liver disease, or hypertension will also predispose of more bleeding during any surgery.  Bleeding during a septoplasty, is somewhat uncommon and probably occurs excessively when one of the more prominent nasal vessels are involved (anterior ethmoid artery), or when the highly vascular turbinate membranes are operated on.  Significant bleeding during nasal surgery can come from many areas, but the turbinates are a good candidate for the exact nasal culprit.   

A Septoplasty should NOT be followed by continuous bleeding. While there may be some bleeding associated with the performance of the operation all bleeding should have been stopped before the case was finished and you left the operating room. Most surgeons stitch the lining of the septum with quilting stitches to apply gentle pressure and promote adherence of the linings and some use nasal packing to further add to the closing of the septal space. If you coughed, sneezed, vomited or strained and began having active bleeding you should go to your surgeon or the ER he directs you to to be evaluated.