Endoscopic ligation of the internal maxillary artery for treatment of intractable posterior epistaxis

Abstract

Lack of universal success with both transantral ligation of the internal maxillary artery and percutaneous embolization of the distal branches of the internal maxillary distribution has led to consideration of alternative techniques to control intractable posterior epistaxis. One such technique takes advantage of advances in endoscopic technology and instrumentation, as well as a nearly constant anatomic configuration. The internal maxillary artery divides into terminal branches within the pterygomaxillary fossa, sending branches through the bony maxilla to exit the posterolateral nasal wall in the posterior aspect of the middle meatus. Endoscopic identification and ligation of these terminal branches of the internal maxillary artery (the sphenopalatine and nasopalatine arteries) as they exit the maxilla has been performed on 10 patients with a 100% success rate and no morbidity or mortality associated with the procedure. These results compare favorably to the average reported success rates of 89% for transantral ligation and 94% for percutaneous embolization, and average complication rates of 28% and 27%, respectively. This endonasal procedure has been performed for spontaneous epistaxis as well as postsurgical nasal bleeding with equal success. The ascending scale of treatment previously outlined in the literature may be amended, as a potentially definitive procedure is available, and we believe that this technique is easier to perform, has less associated morbidity, and has equal efficacy in comparison to transantral ligation or percutaneous embolization in the treatment of intractable posterior epistaxis.