Nosebleeds are common occurrence and can happen to anyone at some point during their life. In most cases, nosebleeds are self-limited and go away on their own. In others, however, nosebleeds can be persistent and life-threatening. If they are unable to be controlled with conventional measures, surgery can provide definitive treatment.
How is nosebleed surgery performed?
First, the specific location of the bleeding is identified. If the bleeding is occurring in the front of the nose, cauterization of the specific area on the septum is usually sufficient to solve the issue. This can be done in the clinic, or using an endoscope in the operating room. Occasionally, isolation of the tiny arteries that supply that region of the nose can be targeted individually.
If the bleeding is coming from the back of the nose, the procedure involves identifying a large artery called the sphenopalatine artery, which is responsible for supplying blood to the back of the nose. This is performed under general anesthesia in the operating room. Once the artery is located, it is clipped, which will greatly reduce the risk for bleeds from this area. This usually resolves any further bleeding issues, unless there are other underlying conditions responsible for the increased bleeding risk.
