Ascending Palatine Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Surgically Refractory Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage

Severe uncontrollable surgically refractory postoperative bleeding after tonsillectomy is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. The efficacy of surgical interventions tends to decline with repetition, which leads to higher morbidity and mortality. Endovascular embolization of the external carotid artery branches as an effective treatment in surgically refractory post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage has been described previously. We describe the case of a 27-year-old man who presented with surgically refractory post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage and underwent successful endovascular embolization of the ascending palatine artery with immediate hemostasis.