Is outpatient sclerotherapy possible?

In the vast majority of cases, the obliteration of a blood vessel in the nose is performed on an outpatient basis. The patients are usually discharged home after a short observation period. If there is very heavy bleeding that could not be stopped by a single cauterization, it is quite possible that the patient will have to stay in hospital for observation. In this case, it should be ensured that immediate action can be taken if bleeding occurs again.

Side effects

The obliteration of bleeding vessels in the nose is generally not a major procedure but can be more difficult depending on the severity of the bleeding or the patient’s constitution.For patients, the sclerotherapy can be very different. Some patients report that the procedure, if performed under local anesthesia, was unpleasant but not painful. Other patients, on the other hand, feel stronger pain during coagulation.

During coagulation, the mucous membrane and the vessel walls are literally burned. A disadvantage of the procedure is therefore that it smells of burnt skin. For many patients, the smell remains in the nose for a longer period of time and afterwards also influences the perception of taste.

The food can taste smoky and banished. A further inconvenience is caused by the resulting wound in the nose and the procedure itself. Electrocoagulation and the instruments that keep the nose open cause the nasal mucous membrane to be very irritated and strained.

Some patients react to this with a more or less severe swelling of the mucous membranes. In addition to any tamponade that may have been inserted, this hinders breathing through the nose. Many patients also report a burning sensation of the nasal mucous membranes in this context.

For patients, a closed nose is a particular problem if they are used to breathing through the nose at night. Decongestant medication such as Otriven Nose Drops can alleviate the symptoms. For most patients, the obliteration of vessels in the nose is not very painful, but tolerable but unpleasant.

Nevertheless, there may be patients who find the procedure very painful. In this case, the operation can also take place in the operating room under anesthesia, so that the patient is not consciously aware of the procedure. The choice of general anesthesia is therefore particularly suitable for patients who are very anxious and could otherwise not keep still. Since electrocoagulation basically involves the burning of skin, this results in a wound in the nose, which can also cause pain afterwards. Here, painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can be taken as prescribed by the doctor to relieve the pain.