Role of pre-operative embolization in carotid body tumor surgery according to Shamblin classification: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pre-operative embolization prior to surgical resection of carotid body tumors was meant to decrease intraoperative blood loss and operative time. Yet, potential confounders such as different Shamblin classes have never been analyzed. Aim of our meta-analysis was to investigate effectiveness of a pre-operative embolization according to different Shamblin classes.

Methods: Five studies comprising 245 patients were included. A random effects model meta-analysis was conducted, and the I statistic was used to assessment for heterogeneity.

Results: Pre-operative embolization was associated with a significant reduction in blood loss (WM: 276.4 mL; 95% CI, 201.9-378.3, p < 0.01); an absolute mean reduction, though not statistically significant, was observed in both Shamblin 2 and 3 classes. No difference in operative time was found between the two strategies (WM: 192.0 min; 95% CI, 157.7-234.1, p = 1.0).

Conclusions: Embolization proved an overall significant reduction in perioperative bleeding, which did not reach threshold for statistical significance when Shamblin classes were singularly considered.