Oroantral fistula: a complication of transantral ligation of the internal maxillary artery for epistaxis.

Transantral ligation of the internal maxillary artery (IMAX) is a well-described option for surgical management of posterior epistaxis not controlled by anterior and posterior packing. Advocates for this procedure argue that it reduces the morbidity, length of hospital stay and financial cost associated with prolonged nasal packing. The procedure is carried out through a Caldwell-Luc approach and the IMAX is clipped in the pterygomaxillary fossa. Fashioning of a nasoantral window is optional and its inclusion usually depends on the integrity of the sinus ostium. The commonest complications of transantral IMAX ligation occur when local structures including the inferior orbital and anterior superior alveolar nerves are damaged. The incidence of oroantral fistula following IMAX ligation is very low but those cases reported have been associated with the failure to create a nasoantral drainage window. We report two cases of persistent oroantral fistula complicating transantral internal maxillary artery ligation. No nasoantral window was fashioned in either of these cases.