title: Intraoperative embolization with poloxamer 407 during surgical resection of a carotid body tumor.
abstract: Surgical excision is the preferred definitive treatment for carotid body tumors, although postoperative morbidity rate as quoted in the literature is rather high. Morbidity includes cranial nerve dysfunction, stroke, and the majority severe blood loss. Embolization of the feeding branches of the external carotid artery can be performed a few days prior to surgery with the intention to decrease blood loss during operation, facilitate surgical resection, and reduce operating time and morbidity. The special risk of embolization is migration into the intracranial circulation. Poloxamer 407, a reverse-thermal polymer, is a nontoxic compound that is a viscous liquid at room temperatures but instantly changes to a firm water-soluble gel when warmed to body temperature. It dissolves spontaneously or can be dissolved at will by cooling. We describe an intraoperative technique for complete devascularization of carotid body tumor by using an intraarterial temporary occlusion technique with a poloxamer 407.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Valladolid University Hospital, Valladolid, Spain. esannorberto@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Enrique María
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: San Norberto
authors.forename: James Henry
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carrera
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vaquero
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002345:Carotid Body Tumor / Q000601:surgery*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020442:Poloxamer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D020442:Poloxamer