Background: Intractable epistaxis has been treated with surgical intervention for many years, including ligation of the internal maxillary artery. As an alternative approach, endovascular therapy has gained increased acceptance. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment of untractable epistaxis.
Methods: Embolotherapy was performed in 26 patients. The indication for embolization was persistent epistaxis even after anterior and posterior nasal packing. In all but two patients, who required general anesthesia, the procedure was performed in local anesthesia. Endovascular embolization of the internal maxillary artery was performed by using microcatheters, which were introduced intraarterially. Particulate embolic agents were used in all but one patient, who was treated by means of minicoils.
Results: The embolization of the territory of the internal maxillary artery was possible in all cases, the technical success rate was 96%, the clinical success rate was 100%. No complications were encountered. Because of an acute recurrent bleeding in one case, a second embolization was performed. No delayed hemorrhages were noted.
Conclusions: Endovascular embolotherapy seems to be an excellent, safe, and less invasive alternative to surgery in patients with intractable epistaxis.