Page Summary
- Surgery is used for recurrent or severe nosebleeds when other treatments are not enough, and it aims to stop the source of the bleeding.
Endoscopic surgery can control persistent or recurrent nosebleeds when simpler treatments are not enough.
For information about common causes and first-aid treatment, see Nosebleeds.
When is surgery considered?
Most nosebleeds do not require surgery. Surgery may be considered when bleeding is severe, recurrent, comes from a deeper part of the nose, or continues despite treatments such as cautery or nasal packing.
What surgery is performed?
Surgery is usually performed through the nostrils using a nasal endoscope, and the procedure depends on where the bleeding is coming from and what is causing it.
The site of bleeding is then treated with cautery or another suitable method, depending on the case.
In severe nosebleeds that do not improve with the usual treatments, the bleeding may be coming from one of the blood vessels at the back of the nose. The site of bleeding is identified during the assessment, then treated with cautery or another suitable method, depending on the case.
What happens after surgery?
Some congestion, crusting, or minor blood-stained drainage is expected during early healing. Saline rinses or other nasal care may be recommended depending on the procedure.
Surgery successfully treats many difficult nosebleeds, but bleeding can return in some cases.
Are there alternatives to surgery?
In selected cases, arterial embolization may be performed by an interventional radiology team.
During embolization, a small catheter is passed through the blood vessels and the vessel contributing to the bleeding is blocked.
The choice between surgery and embolization depends on the source of bleeding, previous treatments, medical condition, and individual anatomy.
ContactSmoking and surgery
Stopping smoking is strongly recommended for at least 4 weeks before surgery and 4 weeks afterward. Smoking increases the risk of breathing and anesthesia-related complications, infection, and delayed healing. If your surgery is sooner, stopping now is still beneficial.