Objective: To our knowledge, study of the intraoperative profuse bleeding of pterygoid venous plexus (PVP) in large nasopharyngeal angiofibroma resection has not yet been reported. Attention should be paid to this topic in clinical practice.
Method: From 1981 to 2009, 44 cases of JNAs were treated in our hospital. Twenty-six of 44 cases were large nasopharyngeal angiofibromas according to the Fisch classification system(Fisch type III 16, type IV 10). The amount of intraoperative blood loss in these 26 cases varied from 200 ml to 5200 ml. Factors influencing intraoperative bleeding of 26 large nasopharyngeal angiofibroma resections were analyzed retrospectively. The intra-operative observations and imaging data of three typical cases were hereby studied.
Result: After embolization of the tumor-supplying branches of the external carotid artery(ECA), both the intraoperative observations and imaging data demonstrated that the pterygoid venous plexus (PVP) played a crucial role in intraoperative hemorrhage.
Conclusion: PVP in the infratemporal fossa communicates with craniofacial veins. There is no valve between these veins. Once PVP is seriously damaged, venous blood of all craniofacial veins will flow out profusely. In the first operation, the intact PVP in the fatty pad generally can be identified and separated from the tumor by delicate surgical managements. If an unsuccessful operation due to serious hemorrhage had been done previously, then scar tissue might tightly adhere with PVP, tumor and the pterygoid muscles, and separation of the tumor from PVP without bleeding is more difficult. Appropriate surgical approach and correct hemostatic procedure of every bleeding point should be done carefully under direct vision. Using finger or instrument for quick blind dissection should be prohibited.