[Selective therapeutic embolization in intractable epistaxis]

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Vascular Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Epistaxis (nosebleed) is a frequent otolaryngologic emergency.
• While conservative measures suffice for many cases, severe or refractory epistaxis necessitates aggressive interventions with potential systemic effects.

Observation:

• This report details three patients with severe epistaxis.
• These cases involved intractable posterior nosebleeds requiring advanced management.

Findings:

• Selective embolization of the external carotid artery territory proved to be an effective treatment strategy.
• All three patients with severe epistaxis were successfully managed using this interventional radiology technique.

Implications:

• Selective embolization offers a viable and effective therapeutic option for intractable posterior epistaxis.
• This approach may reduce the need for more invasive surgical procedures in managing severe nosebleeds.