Carotid Body Tumor Surgery: Management and Outcomes in the Nation

Objective: To evaluate the impact of carotid reconstruction (REC) and pre-operative embolization (EMB) for Carotid Body Tumor (CBT) surgery.

Methods: Retrospective study utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2002-2006).

Results: 2117 patients (mean age 56.5 +/- 17.2 years) underwent CBT surgery: 1686 excision alone (EX); 129 excision with embolization (EX+EMB); and 302 excision with carotid artery reconstruction (EX+REC). EX+REC compared to EX had greater rates of mortality (1.61%vs.0.59%; P =.0495), stroke (17.7% vs. 3.5%; P < .0002), and postoperative hemorrhage (43.1% vs. 2.4%; P < 0.002). EX+EMB did not demonstrate increased mortality or stroke compared to EX and the rate of postoperative hematoma was similar between groups (P = .3144).

Conclusions: CBT resection is a relatively rare procedure and when combined with EMB was more expensive, but was associated with significantly fewer complications and decreased blood product utilization. These data suggest that CBT surgery requiring carotid reconstruction carries significant morbidity and that EMB as an adjunctive tool was beneficial for CBT surgery outcomes.