Intra-arterial embolisation in otolaryngology--a four-year review

This is a retrospective review of otolaryngology patients who underwent intra-arterial embolisation in a tertiary hospital over a four-year period. Thirty patients were reviewed. Seven (23.3%) were embolised electively before resection of hypervascular head and neck tumours. Of the emergency indications, nine patients (30%) had intractable epistaxis from non-oncologic causes, 14 (46.7%) had bleeding of oncologic origin from the head and neck. In all, six patients required further procedures within the first week, 2 (6.7%) suffered permanent cranial nerve deficits. Our results show that intra-arterial embolisation is both useful and safe in elective and emergency settings in otolaryngology, with complication rates comparable to previous publications. The survival of oncology patients with otherwise fatal haemorrhage was significantly prolonged.