[Internal jugular vein thrombosis following functional and selective neck dissections].
OBJECTIVE
Internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is a rare complication of functional and selective neck dissections. It increases morbidity and may seldom be fatal. We investigated the frequency of IJV thrombosis and its relationship with the dissection technique.


METHODS
We evaluated 52 functional and selective neck dissections performed in 34 male patients (mean age 57 years; range 34 to 76 years) with head and neck cancer. Dissections were mainly performed by sharp dissection (n=27) or cautery (n=25). The patients were examined by Doppler ultrasonography with respect to IJV flow and thrombosis preoperatively, and at two weeks and at 3 to 6 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
In the early postoperative period, thrombosis was observed in 7.4% (n=2) of the necks treated with sharp dissection and in 4% (n=1) of the necks treated with cautery. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to IJV thrombosis. Late Doppler examinations showed complete recanalization of all thrombosed IJVs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that sharp dissection or cautery techniques performed in functional neck dissections do not differ with respect to the frequency of postoperative IJV thrombosis.
Arslan
Necmi
N
Department of Otolaryngology, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. arslan_necmi@yahoo.com
Dursun
Engin
E
Oğuz
Berna
B
Oğuz
Haldun
H
Safak
Mustafa Asim
MA
Demirci
Münir
M
Cetin
Onur
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002425:Cautery / Q000009:adverse effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014654:Vascular Patency; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*