title: Evaluation of factors concerning the patency of the internal jugular vein after functional neck dissection.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of several factors on the patency of the internal jugular vein (IJV) after functional neck dissection (FND). A prospective clinical study was undertaken in 21 patients (36 neck dissections) before and after FND at the 1st and 3rd postoperative months by using duplex Doppler ultrasonography. The patients who had radiation therapy (RT) were evaluated again in the 6th postoperative month in order to assess possible late effects of radiation therapy. In our patients the patency rate was 100%, and no thrombosis was found. But the area at rest and during Valsalva's maneuver was reduced, and this difference was found to be statistically significant. It was concluded that the patency of the IJV remains normal after FND. Radiation therapy, infection or fistula formation have no detrimental effects on patency. In addition, the number of ligated branches do not seem to be related to the patency rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Istanbul University, Faculty of Medicine, Millet Cad Capa, 34390 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: K Serkan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Orhan
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guldiken
authors.forename: Kubilay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Talat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Erdamar
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color