Prevention of postoperative wound haematomas and hyperperfusion following carotid endarterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the incidence of wound haematomas and hyperperfusion following carotid endarterectomy and the effect of changes in perioperative management.


METHODS
We undertook a prospective audit of the postoperative outcome of 300 consecutive carotid endarterectomies performed for a symptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery, under the care of a single consultant.


RESULTS
audit of the first 100 operations between 1990-93 resulted in 4 changes to clinical practice. These included the use of Dacron instead of vein because of 3 vein patch blowouts, invasive postoperative monitoring of blood pressure, and the use of intravenous beta-blockers to control hypertension, because of 4 hyperperfusion injuries. The use of 10F suction drains was discontinued, because they did not prevent 8 wound haematomas. The results of the second 100 cases between 1994-97 and the third 100 cases between 1998-2000 confirmed no further hyperperfusion injuries or patch blowouts (p =0.01 and 0.04 respectively). Larger 14F suction drains were reintroduced for the third series because of thirteen haematomas in the second series (p =0.09). Only 4 haematomas occurred in the third series ( p =0.05). The need for beta-blockers fell in the third series due to the introduction of local anaesthesia (p =0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of Dacron patches and postoperative control of hypertension has reduced the incidence of haemorrhage and hyperperfusion after carotid endarterectomy. Larger suction drains may also help.
Beard
J D
JD
Sheffield Vascular Institute, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK.
Mountney
J
J
Wilkinson
J M
JM
Payne
A
A
Dicks
J
J
Mitton
D
D
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates