CASE REPORT

Endsocopic internal maxillary artery cauterization in a patient with severe posterior epistaxis: A case report

Mohammed Garba Mainasara¹, Nurudeen Adebola Shofoluwe², Iliyasu Yunusa Shuaibu², Ibrahim Babatunde Mohammed², Chitumu Dotiro², Amina Muhammad Abdullahi³

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Kaduna State University and Barau Dikko University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
² Department of Surgery, Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
³ Department of ENT, University of Maiduguri and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Nurudeen Adebola Shofoluwe
Department of Surgery, Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria

Source of Support: None
Conflict of Interest: None

Epistaxis from the posterior superior region of the nasal cavity might be fatal in some cases. It is particularly severe in an individual with hypertension, arterial aneurysm of traumatic origin, and bleeding from posterior lateral nasal artery, which is frequently difficult to reach and ligate directly on a bleeding area. Certain cases have been reported in which the bleeding could be stopped only by ligating/embolization of the external carotid artery or the internal maxillary artery at its branching off from the external carotid artery. Despite the multiple anastomoses, the effect of such ligation or cauterization is effective if properly done. We present a case of a 25-year-old young man with a 3-month history of recurrent epistaxis resulting from an internal maxillary artery aneurysm following trauma. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and successful endoscopy treatment of posterior epistaxis are presented.