Objective: Transcatheter embolisation is an accepted and effective treatment for intractable epistaxis. We analysed our success and complication rates and compared these with results from other published series.
Design: Retrospective review.
Setting: Unitas Interventional Unit, Centurion.
Methods: Case record review (57 procedures) and telephonic interviews (36 traceable respondents).
Outcome measures: A numerical audit of the success and complication rates for embolisation procedures performed during the 4-year period between July 1999 and June 2003.
Results: A total of 57 endovascular embolisation procedures were performed for intractable epistaxis in 51 patients during this period. Eight patients (15.7%) developed a re-bleed between 1 and 33 days after embolisation, of whom 5 were reembolised, giving a primary short-term success rate of 86.3% and secondary assisted success rate of 94.1%. Thirty-five of 36 respondents (97.2%) reported no further epistaxis during the long-term follow-up period of 1-47 months. The mortality rate was 0%, the major morbidity rate was 2% (1 stroke) and the minor morbidity rate was 25%.
Conclusion: Our success and complication rates are acceptable and compare favourably with those reported in other large series.