Severe hemorrhage during an incisional biopsy: a report of a case.

BACKGROUND: Surgical procedures under local anesthesia are routinely employed by the dentist and are susceptible to significant complications which demand immediate care from the dental professional. REPORT: This report presents a case of severe arterial hemorrhage during a simple removal of a lesion during an incisional biopsy. SUMMARY: In the event of severe arterial hemorrhage in a conventional dental office, manual compression for containing the hemorrhage and use of an adequate light source to correctly visualize the origin of the bleeding is recommended. If visible, the dental surgeon must attempt to perform vascular ligature or an occlusive suture. If the hemorrhage cannot be controlled after these measures, the patient must be transported to a hospital while continuing local compression during transit.