Identification of bleeding sites and microwave thermal ablation of posterior epistaxis.

Background: Microwave ablation (MWA) is a relatively new technique which has been used to achieve hemostasis at surgical field. However, few publications have reported MWA for epistaxis.

Objective: Our objectives were to identify the bleeding sites/points in instances of posterior epistaxis and to evaluate the efficacy of MWA for controlling bleeding.

Methods: Patients with posterior epistaxis who met the inclusion criteria were examined and treated endoscopically using MWA. Recurrent bleeding and complications were evaluated at 1 and 3 months after treatment.

Results: Of the 71 patients, the bleeding site/point was identified in 67 patients while 4 patients was unknown. Of the 67 patients with known bleeding sites, the olfactory cleft was in 44 patients, the middle meatus in 5 patients, and the inferior meatus in 18 patients. Only the bleeding point was coagulated in the 67 patients while prophylactic MWA in the 4 patients. No side effects or complications (including recurrent bleeding, crusting, nasal discomfort, and nasal septal perforation) were seen at 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions: MWA may effectively control posterior epistaxis with a low cost and without complications.