RESUMO
This study evaluated patient characteristics that affect the complexity and difficulties of performing surgery to resect carotid body tumors (CBTs). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 20 patients with 21 CBTs who were enrolled in the study. The median patient age was 46 years and the mean tumor diameter was 37.6 mm. The mean blood loss and operative time were 40.3 mL and 183 min, respectively. Four patients underwent resection of the carotid artery followed by reconstruction. These four patients were between 18 to 23 years of age at the time of surgery. The mean blood loss and operative time in these patients were 166 mL and 394 min, respectively, which differed significantly from those of older patients. Therefore, young age influenced the difficulties faced in surgical resection of CBT, with an increased risk of blood loss and carotid artery resection.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure by analyzing the blood loss and duration of carotid body tumor (CBT) surgery following same-day preoperative embolization. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of subjects retrospectively. Fifteen patients with 16 CBTs were enrolled in this study. Our same-day procedure comprises preoperative embolization of the feeding arteries in the morning followed by surgery within 3 hours after the embolization is completed. RESULTS: The mean operative time and the mean amount of blood loss were 138 minutes and 29.3 mL, respectively. The tumor volume after embolization was markedly reduced and the mean reduction rate was 50%. We found that 13 CBTs had more than three feeding arteries. Almost all the postoperative complications, mainly cranial nerve paralyzes, resolved within months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Our same-day procedure is a safer and superior alternative to traditional CBT surgery, having good outcomes.