The effect of experimental ligation of the external carotid artery and its major branches on haemorrhage from the maxillary artery.

The effect of ligation of the external carotid artery and its major branches on blood flow from the maxillary artery was investigated in four Chacma baboons. The left common carotid artery and its branches were surgically exposed and the maxillary artery was isolated, sectioned and cannulated. Blood flow from the proximal segment of the maxillary artery was determined with and without occlusion of the common carotid artery, the external carotid artery above and below the origin of the linguo-facial trunk and the posterior auricular occipital trunk. Ligation of the external carotid artery below and above the origin of the lingual and facial arteries reduced maxillary artery blood flow by 40% and 73% respectively. Ligation of the external carotid artery above the origin of the lingual and facial vessels, together with ligation of the posterior auricular occipital trunk reduced maxillary artery blood flow by 99.2%. On the basis of these experimental findings, it is suggested that maxillary artery haemorrhage in man may be most effectively controlled by ligation of the external carotid artery in the retromandibular fossa, distal to the origin of the posterior auricular artery, combined with ligation of the superficial temporal artery at the root of the zygoma.