Complications and Outcomes of Endovascular Embolization for Intractable Epistaxis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Endovascular embolization has emerged as an effective treatment for intractable epistaxis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to calculate the rates of success, rebleeds, and complications and to identify the etiologies and complications of patients who undergo endovascular embolization.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted per the guidelines set forth by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles were extracted from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central and were filtered by a systematic review process using Rayyan software. A random-effects model was used to quantify the rates success, rebleeds, and complications.

Results: Forty-two studies were included, totaling 1660 patients. The pooled success rate was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 86%-92%) and the pooled rebleed rate was 19% (95% CI 16%-22%). The pooled minor complication rate was 18% (95% CI 11%-27%). The most common major complication was soft tissue necrosis followed by stroke. The most common minor complication was facial pain. No minor complications were reported to be permanent. Of the patients who failed initial embolization, 42% underwent repeat embolization and 34% underwent surgical arterial ligation.

Conclusions: Endovascular embolization is an effective treatment for intractable epistaxis. The decision to perform embolization should be carefully weighed given the rare but significant major complications.

Keywords: angiography; endovascular procedures; epistaxis; meta-analysis; nasal bleeding; outcomes; postoperative complications; systematic review; therapeutic embolization.