Managing Epistaxis Alongside IR

In this episode, Dr. Sabeen Dhand, an Interventional Radiologist, joins our hosts Dr. Gopi Shah and Dr. Ashley Agan to discuss epistaxis and the evaluation and management of different causes of epistaxis.

Dr. Agan and Dr. Dhand start the discussion by bringing up common presentations of epistaxis from both an ENT standpoint as well as IR; with the usual presentation being initially to ENT with possible referral to IR for embolization. They then continue to speak about initial treatments for epistaxis in the ED, which entails use of pressure, Afrin, and nasal packing or cauterization. If those measures aren’t sufficient, further examination in the OR may be warranted to find specific location and cause. In the case of a posterior nosebleed, usually from the sphenopalatine artery (SPA), with brisk bleeding and/or failure of ligation, SPA embolization by IR may be of use. Dr. Dhand mentions a contraindication for SPA embolization in the case of the ophthalmic artery anastomosis between the Internal Carotid Artery and External Carotid Artery due to risk of stroke and blindness. Different sources of bleeding should also be evaluated.

The discussion rounds off with the summarization of initial treatment of epistaxis. Two important considerations include proper nasal packing, pushing back into the nose and not straight up, as well as avoiding compressing nasal structures and causing necrosis and further mucosal irritation increasing bleeding risk.