Transcaruncular electrocoagulation of anterior ethmoidal artery for the treatment of severe epistaxis.

OBJECTIVE: The irrigation of the upper third of the nasal fossa is supplied by the anterior ethmoidal artery. We describe a surgical technique to deal with epistaxis due to anterior ethmoidal artery bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to March 2010 transcaruncular coagulation of the anterior ethmoidal artery was done on nine patients with epistaxis of the upper third of the nasal fossa. RESULTS: The procedure was successful on all cases. No bleeding relapse, major complications, or nasal or orbital sequelae were present in any of the patients. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Transcaruncular electrocoagulation of the anterior ethmoidal artery is a safe and effective technique to deal with upper third nasal fossa bleeding.