Endovascular intervention in treatment of refractory epistaxis

OBJECTIVE: Angiographic embolization is an established method of treating intractable cases of posterior epistaxis. This study aimed to test the effectiveness and safety of this method in treating cases refractory to conservative methods. METHODS: A descriptive retrospective analysis of consecutive cases referred to the department of interventional radiology with refractory epistaxis from January 2001 to December 2018 and received a selective angiographic embolization of the sphenopalatine artery was done. Only epistaxis of idiopathic origin was included in the study. RESULTS: During this period, 98 embolizations were performed. The success rate reached 81.6%. Minor complications were registered in 5%, with no single major complication. The length of stay was 10.5 ± 5.6. CONCLUSION: Selective angiographic embolization is an effective, safe, and minimally invasive method in treating refractory epistaxis.