International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Case reportExternal carotid artery blood supply to the orbit
Section snippets
Case report
TR is a 5-year-old girl who underwent an elective adenotonsillectomy by a private specialist. The operative notes indicate that it was a routine procedure, with the adenoidectomy performed using suction monopolar diathermy, and the tonsillectomy by using blunt dissection and bipolar diathermy for haemostasis. In keeping with the practice of the surgeon, the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars were sutured together. Five days later, she presented to the emergency department of the tertiary
Discussion
This unusual finding prompted a review of the literature for descriptions of similar cases. None were evident where this finding is reported. There are, however, several reports of anomalous origins of the ophthalmic artery from the internal maxillary artery and numerous reports of embolisation used for post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage.
The arterial supply to the palatine tonsils includes the descending palatine artery (from the internal maxillary artery), the ascending pharyngeal artery, the
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