Medical treatment of a nosebleed begins with local pressure and nasal spraying of decongestants, a process which causes the blood vessels to constrict.
Nasal packing is commonly utilized in Emergency Departments but blood transfusion may be needed if the bleeding does not stop. If medical treatment is not sufficient to stop the bleeding surgical options are available.
ENDOVASCULAR EMBOLIZATION
A small catheter is inserted from the groin all the way up into the artery caring blood flow to parts of face and nose, called Internal Maxillary Artery and embolization with particles (PVA- that looks almost like tiny grains of salt) is performed to plug bleeding vessels.
Embolization does not always work but can be repeated if necessary It is proven to be extremely effective and becomes a treatment of choice in many institutions.
SURGICAL OPTION
If bleeding site can be identified an ENT specialist can attempt to cauterize the vessel.
