Abstract
Objective: To assess the ability of a surgical device (SinuStat, Sinocclusive LLC) to temporarily occlude flow in the sphenopalatine artery in the human cadaver model.
Method: The experiment was performed on January 28, 2012, in the setting of a fully accredited ambulatory surgical suite. A human cadaver model simulating hydraulic pressure of 100 mm Hg in the maxillary artery was obtained by cannulating this artery via external dissection to the infratemporal fossa. The sphenopalatine artery and its immediate branches were identified endoscopically and perforated distal to the foramen with a 21G spinal needle. Control (without device in place) and study (with device in place) flow were evaluated endoscopically for the amount of penetration to the nasal cavity of dye-enhanced normal saline. Four sequential insertions and removals of the device were tested.
Results: The placement of the SinuStat device into the sphenopalatine foramen, compared to control flow, resulted in complete or near complete cessation of flow in 4 of 4 insertions.
Conclusion: In the model studied, the SinuStat temporary sphenopalatine artery occlusion device completely or near-completely occludes flow from the sphenopalatine artery when subjected to a static hydraulic pressure of 100 mm Hg. Use of the SinuStat device in endonasal procedures is thus anticipated to completely or near-completely occlude blood flow through the sphenopalatine artery at mean arterial pressures around 100 mm Hg. More studies will be required to determine the impact this will have on the quality of the surgical field during endonasal surgery.
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