Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation for refractory posterior epistaxis

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Intractable posterior epistaxis presents significant management challenges.
• Conventional treatments like nasal packing and arterial ligation have limitations including morbidity and high failure rates.
• Effective and safe interventions for severe epistaxis are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experience and outcomes of endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation for intractable posterior epistaxis.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this minimally invasive technique.
• To present the surgical technique for endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation.

Main Methods:

• Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation was performed on four patients with posterior epistaxis refractory to conventional treatments.
• The surgical technique involves accessing and ligating the sphenopalatine artery endoscopically.
• Patient outcomes regarding bleeding control and complications were assessed.

Main Results:

• All four patients experienced rapid and complete cessation of epistaxis following the procedure.
• The endoscopic ligation technique was found to be simple and effective.
• No significant complications were reported, and morbidity was avoided compared to nasal packing.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation is a highly effective and safe treatment for intractable posterior epistaxis.
• This minimally invasive approach offers a valuable alternative to nasal packing, especially for systemically compromised patients.
• Consideration of early intervention with endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation is recommended for refractory epistaxis.