Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes of surgical resection of carotid body tumors with and without preoperative embolization.
Methods: There were 31 patients who underwent surgical resection combined with preoperative embolization (SRE group), and 27 patients who underwent conventional surgical resection (SR group); all clinical data were included and reviewed.
Results: There was no difference in the approach for carotid reconstruction in either group (P > .05). The mean surgical time (110.65 ± 35.77 minutes vs 188.33 ± 66.44 minutes) and intraoperative blood loss (140.32 ± 57.12 mL vs 396.43 ± 272.82 mL) were significantly less in the SRE group (P < .05). The volume of blood transfusions required (475 ± 301.18 mL vs 0 mL) and incidence rate of total complications (33.3% vs 9.7%) were higher in the SR group (P < .05). However, the length of hospital stay was similar in both groups (P > .05).
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that preoperative embolization of a carotid body tumor can reduce blood loss and complications and improve tumor excision.
Keywords: carotid body tumor; complication; embolization; outcomes; surgical resection.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.