Endoscopic control of posterior epistaxis.

Control of bleeding vessels by suction cautery under endoscopic vision was used on 38 patients suffering from posterior epistaxis. Twelve patients also required the insertion of nasal tampons at the end of the cautery procedure. Eight patients, six of them hypertensive, had recurrent epistaxis post-operatively. Five patients needed further cautery in order to control the bleeding. Three patients required temporary balloon tamponade, and a single patient had internal maxillary ligation. Temporary palatal numbness in three patients was the only post-operative complication. Otherwise, the technique has the potential advantages of simplicity, safety, effectiveness and simplified post-operative care.