Reduction of intra-operative blood loss by temporary control of external carotid artery in advanced head and neck malignancies

Abstract

Objective: The study introduces a simple vascular control procedure to minimize intraoperative blood loss during resection of advanced head and neck malignancies through clamping to the external carotid artery (ECA). Patients and methods: This prospective study included 20 patients with different operable head and neck cancer randomized to perform vascular clamping of ECA during neck dissection before tumor resection (group A, n = 11) or classical neck dissection and resection of the tumors without vascular control (group B, n = 9). Results: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups regarding demographic and disease characteristics. Statistically significant decrease of blood loss was observed in the vascular control group. Blood loss in group A was nearly a quarter of that in group B. Conclusion: Temporary intraoperative clamping of the ECA minimizes blood loss, and consequently, the need for blood transfusion with all its complications. In addition, it ensures more optimum survival of the full-thickness graft used for coverage of the head neck defect left after surgery.