Carotid Body Tumor Excision with In Vivo Optical Spectroscopy (INVOS)Cerebral Regional Oxygen Saturation Monitoring under Anesthesia

Abstract

Carotid body tumor excisions pose significant morbidity, even mortality due to autonomic dysfunction, anatomical relations and prior radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Close excision proximity to the carotid artery may potentially compromise cerebral perfusion; hence a real-time monitoring system while the patient is under anaesthesia would be beneficial. Our case report describes the use of the In Vivo Optical Spectroscopy (INVOS ®) cerebral oximeter as a surrogate for cerebral perfusion monitoring in a patient who underwent a successful excision of a recurrent carotid body tumor under general anaesthesia with prior history of contralateral carotid body tumor excision. Intraoperative real-time regional oxygen saturation (rSO 2) readings were compared to her baseline values and pharmacological agents were titrated accordingly. INVOS® cerebral oximeter provides a real-time, non-invasive monitor of cerebral perfusion especially valuable in conditions with potential cerebral vascular compromise.