Superselective embolisation for intractable epistaxis: experiences with 19 patients Twenty‐eight patients with intractable nose‐bleeds were treated with either superselective embolization and/or surgery between 1983 and 1986. The follow‐up time ranged between 6 months and 3 years. The results for the 2 groups were similar. The success rate for embolization was 74% and that for surgery 65%. Complications however, were more frequent after embolization, (i.e. facial nerve paralysis, soft tissue necrosis). Surgery is recommended as the treatment of choice in intractable nosebleeds, until therapeutic embolization techniques have been further refined and the complication rate reduced.