Hostname: page-component-5db58dd55d-f6s65 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-29T13:52:22.646Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Peri-operative complications of sphenopalatine artery ligation: a 10-year series from two secondary care centres

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2022

H M Yip*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
S Khosla
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Frimley Park Hospital, Camberley, UK
A Ashman
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
R Hettige
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK
F Van Wyk
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Frimley Park Hospital, Camberley, UK
J Hern
Affiliation:
Department of ENT, Frimley Park Hospital, Camberley, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Hao Meng Yip, Department of ENT, Wexham Park Hospital, Wexham Street, Slough SL2 4HL, UK E-mail: meng.yip@nhs.net

Abstract

Background

There is currently limited evidence regarding the potential complications of sphenopalatine artery ligation. The post-operative outcomes at two secondary care centres over a 10-year period were reviewed.

Methods

A retrospective review was undertaken of patients undergoing emergency and elective sphenopalatine artery ligation between January 2011 and January 2021. Their demographics, peri-operative care and post-operative outcomes were recorded. The median follow-up time was 54 days (range, 0–2657 days).

Results

Ninety-one patients were included. Four patients (4.4 per cent) had a septal perforation at post-operative review. Nineteen patients (20.9 per cent) had post-operative bleeding that extended their in-patient stay, with five patients (5.5 per cent) requiring revision surgery. Pre-operative non-dissolvable nasal packing was used a median of 1 time (range, 0–8 times).

Conclusion

Further research on outcomes of sphenopalatine artery ligation is needed. Pre-operative non-dissolvable nasal packing, concurrent septal surgical procedures, surgical techniques, and co-morbidities such as hypertension represent potential confounding factors that could not be further assessed in this small, retrospective study.

Information

Type
Main Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable