The Influence of Young Age on Difficulties in the Surgical Resection of Carotid Body Tumors

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to reveal the factors affecting the complexity and difficulties in performing surgery to resect carotid body tumors (CBTs). We analyzed 20 patients with 21 CBTs. We used the “same day surgery” procedure, including preoperative embolization of the feeding arteries in the morning and resection surgery in the afternoon of the same day. 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 differed significantly from those in older patients. These results indicated that young age may influence the difficulties faced in CBT surgery, resulting in an increased risk of carotid artery resection. The results obtained from our study could help surgeons safely and effectively perform resection surgery for CBTs. ABSTRACT: 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.