title: Vascular Structures of the Lateral Wall of the Maxillary Sinus: A Vascular Labeling Technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sinus floor augmentation is a common procedure in implant dentistry. However, several intraoperative complications can occur during this procedure, such as bleeding from the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus. The aim of this study was to describe the vascular structures of the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus using a vascular labeling technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten cadaveric specimens were prepared by the vascular labeling technique. Liquid latex was injected into the large vessels of the head, and the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus was exposed by dissection. The diameter of the vessels and their distance from the alveolar ridge (AR) were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood vessels could be observed in all the dissected specimens (100%). The mean distance from the lower edge of the blood vessels to the AR was 18.5 mm (SD 3.31 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The vascular labeling technique detects maxillary sinus vessels in a predictable and effective way. These structures are clinically relevant because they are located in the area where the lateral window is usually created in sinus augmentation procedures and can cause profuse bleeding.
authors.affiliation: *Fellow, Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology Degree Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain. †Professor of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain. ‡Professor of Human Anatomy, Biomedical Department and Odontology Department, University of Antofagasta, Chile. §Associate Professor of Oral Surgery and Professor of the Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology Degree Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain; Researcher at the IDIBELL Institute, Barcelona, Spain. ¶Professor of Oral Surgery and Director of the Master of Oral Surgery and Implantology Degree Program, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Barcelona, Spain; Researcher at the IDIBELL Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caraballo
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Manzanares-Céspedes
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valdivia-Gandur
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valmaseda-Castellón
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000098:blood supply*; D059546:Sinus Floor Augmentation / Q000379:methods