EXPERIENCES WITH INTERVENTIONAL ANGIOGRAP HY IN SEVERE EPISTAXIS

In cases of severe bleeding of the nose, besides sufficient packings f urther steps like surgical exploration and closure of vessels like max illary or ethmoidal arteries or even the external carotid artery are d escribed in most textbooks. Superselective angiographical embolisation is also mentioned, mostly as an alternative method, while often point ing out the danger of severe thromboembolic complications. In the last two years, we had excellent experiences with this method in 15 cases, without any of the complications mentioned above. We do feel that att empts at superselective angiological embolisation should be made prior to surgical intervention. Of course, technical and personal prerequis ites must be adequately met besides excellent individual experience in interventional angiography.