Competence of Cauterization of Sphenopalatine Artery for Idiopathic Refractory Posterior Epistaxis
Author(s): Tunjai Namiq Faiq and Ozdan Akram Ghareeb*
Abstract
Refractory posterior epistaxis requires cautery of sphenopalatine artery. The current study aimed to estimate the efficiency of cautery the sphenoid artery and to observe postoperative complications. This prospective clinical study of 200 consecutive adult patients with posterior epistaxis was conducted in a private specialized hospital and clinic in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, from the period from February 2019 to September 2021. The nasal cavity of each participant was carefully examined endoscopically to find out the location of the bleeding, and then determine the necessity of surgical intervention. A total of 200 cases of epistaxis were included, posterior epistaxis accounted for 12 (6%) of all epistaxis cases, and required cauterization of the sphenoid artery. According to the results, the success rate of all surgical cases was complete, as no serious complications were observed intra and post endoscopic cauterization, except for one case of numbness of the palate, which gradually disappeared during the first three months after the operation. Thus, we concluded that better success can be achieved by cautery of the sphenopalatine artery and it can be considered as the first-line for idiopathic posterior epistaxis.