Fungal Malignant Otitis Externa Involves a Cascade of Complications Culminating in Pseudoaneurysm of Internal Maxillary Artery: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Pseudomonal infection is the most common cause of malignant otitis externa (MOE), which typically affects elderly diabetic patients. Fungi are a rare cause of MOE. MOE can be life-threatening if not recognized and treated promptly. It can result in a wide spectrum of complications, including skull-base osteomyelitis, cranial nerve palsy, cerebral venous thrombosis, and brain abscess. Pseudoaneurysm formation of the intracranial vessels is a life-threatening complication of MOE that is seldom reported in the literature. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 66-year-old diabetic man with MOE who was initially treated with antipseudomonal antibiotics after negative initial culture results. His MOE resulted in a cascade of complications, including facial nerve palsy, skull base osteomyelitis, and sigmoid sinus thrombosis, and culminated in left maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm formation resulting in massive epistaxis and hemodynamic instability. Endovascular embolization resulted in a successful obliteration of the pseudoaneurysm. A subsequent functional endoscopic sinus surgical (FESS) tissue biopsy confirmed Candida glabrata as the etiological agent. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics and antifungal and anticoagulation therapy, and was discharged home in good condition. CONCLUSIONS A high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of fungal MOE, particularly in intractable cases of MOE with negative initial cultures, should be maintained. Pseudoaneurysm formation is a life-threatening complication of MOE that is seldom reported in the literature and should be suspected in any patient with MOE who presents with epistaxis or intracranial bleeding.

Maxillary Artery Pseudoaneurysm as a Complication of Maxillofacial Injuries: Report of three cases and literature review.

Traumatic maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm is an uncommonly reported complication in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. It is usually discovered incidentally, either early after trauma or weeks-to-months later. Quick recognition and prompt management are essential to avoid devastating consequences. In this paper, we report three uncommon cases of maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm recognised during the surgical management of maxillofacial injuries in Muscat, Oman. All cases presented as sudden brisk bleeding during the intraoperative surgical repair and were subsequently diagnosed and successfully managed by endovascular embolisation with platinum coils. This case report highlights the clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of maxillary artery pseudoaneurysm, in addition to a brief review of the literature.

Spontaneous Regression of Parapharyngeal Arteriovenous Malformation.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are fast-flow vascular malformations that mostly occur in the head and neck region. They are typically progressive and their spontaneous regression is almost never seen. We present a case with pulsatile tinnitus and a parapharyngeal AVM. It resolved completely after diagnostic catheter-based angiography alone.

Hemodynamic study with duplex ultrasonography on combined (direct/indirect) revascularization in adult moyamoya disease.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the hemodynamic changes by duplex ultrasonography in adult moyamoya disease (MMD) patients who underwent combined direct and indirect revascularization surgery. METHODS: Seventeen adult patients underwent direct and indirect revascularization surgery in our hospital. Hemodynamic parameters, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistance index (RI), were determined by color Doppler at the baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months after bypass. RESULTS: Both the PSV and EDV of direct bypass were lower at 6 months after surgery compared with those at 2 weeks postoperatively. The EDV of indirect revascularization surgery of the maxillary artery (MA) at 6 months after surgery was higher and the RI of the MA lower compared with the baseline levels. Decreased PSV and EDV in the bypass vessel did not significantly correlate with increased EDV or decreased RI of the MA. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex ultrasonography is a reliable, noninvasive tool to assess hemodynamic changes and evaluate the therapeutic performance of combined bypass surgery in adult MMD.

Complicaciones quirúrgicas de la cirugía ortognática: presentación de tres casos y revisión de la literatura / Complications in orthognathic surgery: A presentation of three cases and a review of the literature

La corrección de las deformidades dentofaciales mediante osteotomías de los huesos faciales se conoce comúnmente como cirugía ortognática. Las técnicas quirúrgicas empleadas con más frecuencia son la osteotomía de LeFort I en el maxilar y la osteotomía sagital en la mandíbula. Estas técnicas están altamente protocolizadas y permiten obtener resultados predecibles y estables en el tiempo. El índice de complicaciones quirúrgicas es bajo, entre el 1-25% y varía según las series en función de lo que se defina como complicación. Objetivos. Revisión bibliográfica de las complicaciones descritas de las osteotomías correctoras de las deformidades dentofaciales y presentación de tres casos con su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Material y método. Se presentan tres casos de complicación en nuestro servicio: dos osteotomías inadecuadas («bad split») en la ostetotomía sagital mandibular y una necrosis aséptica del maxilar tras osteotomía LeFort I. Resultados. Se presentan dos alternativas a la corrección del bad split mandibular, mediante tornillos bicorticales y mediante placa reforzada con tornillos roscados a placa. En la necrosis aséptica del maxilar se presentan los signos clínicos y pruebas diagnósticas empleadas en el caso presentado, el tratamiento inicial y finalmente de las secuelas. Conclusiones. La corrección quirúrgica de las deformidades dentofaciales mediante técnicas de cirugía ortognática es un tratamiento seguro con resultados predecibles. Pese al desarrollo de nuevos materiales y técnicas ningún procedimiento quirúrgico está exento de complicaciones. Es responsabilidad del cirujano evaluar los riesgos en cada caso, informar al paciente y diagnosticar y tratar las complicaciones con la mayor diligencia y eficacia(AU)

The correction of dental-facial deformities by means of osteotomies of the facial bones is commonly known as orthognathic surgery. The most common surgical techniques employed are the LeFort 1 maxillary osteotomy, and sagittal mandibular osteotomy. These techniques are highly standardised and ensure predictable and stable results over time. The surgical complications rate is low, between 1% and 25%, and varies depending on how a complication is defined. Objectives. To present a literature review of the complications reported in corrective osteotomies of dental-facial deformities, and a description of the diagnosis and treatment of three cases. Material and method. Three cases with a complication are presented: two inadequate osteotomies ("bad split") in the sagittal mandibular osteotomy and one maxillary aseptic necrosis after a LeFort 1 maxillary osteotomy. Results. Two alternatives for correcting the mandibular bad split are presented, using bicortical screws and using a reinforced plate with screws threaded to the plate. In the maxillary aseptic necrosis, the clinical signs, the diagnostic tests used, the initial treatment, and finally the sequelae of this case are presented. Conclusions. The surgical correction of dental-facial deformities using orthognathic surgery is a safe treatment with predictable results. Despite the development of new materials and techniques, no surgical procedure is complication free. It is the responsibility of the surgeon to assess the risks of each case, to inform the patient and diagnose and treat the complications with the greatest diligence and efficacy(AU)

Selective endovascular embolization for refractory idiopathic epistaxis is a safe and effective therapeutic option: technique, complications, and outcomes.

Epistaxis generally responds to conservative management, but a more invasive approach, such as superselective embolization, is sometimes justified. We report our experience with endovascular procedures in 19 patients from 2002 to 2011 for the treatment of refractory idiopatic posterior epistaxis. The sphenopalatine artery and distal internal maxillary arteries were embolized in all patients. Unilateral embolization was performed in 12 patients (63%), bilateral embolization in seven (37%). Additional embolization of the descending palatine artery was performed in eight patients (42%) and embolization of the facial artery and palatine arteries in four (21%). In one patient the distal ophthalmic artery was embolized with n-butyl cyanoacrylate. No minor or major complications occurred in relation to the embolization procedures. The average hospital stay was 11.1±8.6 days, including an average 5.2±3.4 days after embolization. Average follow-up after discharge was 21.3±25.7 months. Superselective endovascular embolization proved safe and effective in controlling idiopathic epistaxis, refractory to other maneuvers.

Hard palate necrosis after bilateral internal maxillary artery embolization for epistaxis.

Superselective embolization is an effective method of treating epistaxis that is refractory to conservative treatment. Soft tissue necrosis is a rare complication owing to the extensive collateral blood supply of the head and neck. We describe the case of a patient who developed unilateral necrosis of the mucosa overlying the hard palate after undergoing bilateral internal maxillary artery embolization. The presence of a nasopharyngeal balloon and bilateral nasal packs for 2 days after embolization may have compressed collateral vessels in the soft palate and nose and contributed to this complication. Packing should be removed as soon as possible after embolization.

Endosurgical repair of an iatrogenic facial arteriovenous fistula due to percutaneous trigeminal balloon rhizotomy.

A 56-year-old woman with right-sided trigeminal neuralgia (TN), who underwent technically uneventful percutaneous balloon rhizotomy, developed significant bilateral pulsatile tinnitus on the first post-operative day. Although the patient reported significantly improved neuralgia, auscultation revealed a right facial bruit. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the face and brain demonstrated prominent right facial and jugular venous vascularity. Catheter angiography confirmed the suspected facial arteriovenous fistula (AVF). A transarterial approach was used to explore the AVF which arose from a laceration of the right internal maxillary artery and which fistulized directly with the pterygoid venous plexus. Endosurgical repair utilizing three non-fibered platinum coils was done under conscious sedation at the same setting as the diagnostic angiogram. Angiographically, the fistula was obliterated, and the patient's bruit and tinnitus immediately resolved. Follow-up MRA at 3.5 months was normal, and, the patient had no clinical symptoms of recurrent AVF. In conclusion facial AVF can complicate percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy. Iatrogenic facial AVF can be repaired via an endovascular approach.

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the pharyngeal artery: An unusual cause of hematemesis and hematochezia after craniofacial trauma.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic aneurysms of the internal maxillary artery are extremely rare. We report a case of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the pharyngeal artery, a branch of the internal maxillary artery, presenting with hematemesis and hematochezia. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 18-year-old man presented with deep drowsy consciousness after a motor vehicle accident, in which he had a severe craniofacial injury. Three days later, he had hematemesis and hematochezia with a marked decrease in circulating hemoglobin level. External carotid arteriography performed to rule out vascular injury revealed active leakage from a false aneurysm of the pharyngeal artery. The lesion was successfully obliterated by superselective endovascular embolization. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with craniofacial injury associated with multiple traumas, traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the pharyngeal artery should be suspected as one of the possible causes of hematemesis and hematochezia. Selective endovascular embolization with cerebral angiography is an effective modality for the treatment and diagnosis of this lesion.

Epistaxis: diagnosis and treatment.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are called on to evaluate and treat various emergencies, including acute epistaxis. Epistaxis is relatively benign in nature, but it can produce a serious, life-threatening situation. It has been estimated that up to 60% of the population has had at least 1 episode of epistaxis throughout their lifetime. Of this group, 6% seek medical care to treat epistaxis, with 1.6 in 10,000 requiring hospitalization. With fewer and fewer otorhinolaryngologists participating on hospital call schedules, it is critical for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon to be familiar with the anatomy, diagnosis, and treatment of acute epistaxis and associated medical concerns. Considerations concerning mechanism of injury, coagulopathies, and potential treatment options need to be assessed quickly and accurately to ensure the most appropriate treatment and positive outcome for the patient. The need to treat epistaxis in an emergent setting will often require the involvement of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. By reviewing the anatomy, potential complications arising from associated medical conditions, and treatment options, patients can be accurately assessed and treated appropriately.

Variation in the origin of the inferior alveolar nerve.

The inferior alveolar nerve and maxillary artery were studied in 40 human heads through infratemporal dissection; in one specimen, a unusual variation in the origin of the inferior alveolar nerve and its relationship with the surrounding structures was observed. The inferior alveolar nerve originated from the mandibular nerve by two roots and the second part of the maxillary artery was incorporated between them. An embryologic origin of this variation and its clinical implications is discussed. Because the maxillary artery ran between the two roots of the inferior alveolar nerve, and the nerve was fixed between the foramen ovale and mandibular foramen, tension and compression of the nerve from arterial pulsation could cause mandibular neuralgia.

Estudo Comparativo das abordagens transmaxilar e retromolar à artéria maxilar, na epistaxe severa posterior / Comparative study of transmaxillar and retromolar approach on posterior severe epistaxis

Esse estudo apresenta em um caso de epistaxe severa posterior tratado por duas abordagens cirúrgicas, pelas vias bucais retromolar e transmaxilar, que em ambas as técnicas a artéria maxilar é alcançada na mesma regiäo anatômica, ou seja, na regiäo zigomática, junto à tuberosidade da maxila, o que foi corroborado por estudo complementar em dez peças anatômicas.

Temporary uniocular blindness and ophthalmoplegia associated with a mandibular block injection. A case report.

A mandibular block injection produced temporary uniocular blindness, total ophthalmoplegia, mydriasis, and ptosis of the eyelid, with diplopia developing as the sight returned. These effects lasted 25-30 minutes. The explanation offered as to the cause of the anaesthetic phenomenon is an intra-arterial injection into the maxillary artery with backflow of anaesthetic solution into the middle meningeal artery. The instantaneous blindness results from the anaesthetic agent being carried into the central artery of the retina through an anastomosis of the ophthalmic and middle meningeal arteries via the recurrent meningeal branch of the lacrimal artery. Although of short duration, the symptoms mimic a more serious carotid artery embolus occluding the ophthalmic artery. Complications of mandibular blocks have been reported in the literature, however total blindness and ophthalmoplegia are extremely rare. This case report highlights an event where individual anatomical variation of the maxillary and middle meningeal arteries has allowed anaesthetic solution to be delivered to an ectopic site.

Embolization as the definitive treatment of epistaxis in the pediatric patient.

Epistaxis occurs often in children, but these patients are seldom hospitalized. Two cases of intractable epistaxis, which were definitively treated with internal maxillary artery embolization, are presented with an algorithm for management of similar cases.

[Internal maxillary artery and collateral circulation in thrombosis of internal carotid artery (author's transl)]. / L'arteria mascellare interna ed i circoli di compenso nella trombosi della carotide interna

From 53 cases of thrombosis of the internal carotid artery in the neck, collateral circulation through external carotid branches was angiographically demonstrated in 34 subjects. Anastomosis between external and intracranial circulations was seen to take place through three ways formed by internal maxillary, superficial temporal and facial arteries. The role of internal maxillary artery is emphasised as the most important pathway in the connections between the two circles.