Histological examinations on the hemostatic effect of freezing during surgical procedures in the head and neck
Ganz, H.; Fülling, J.; Klein, H.
Laryngologie Rhinologie Otologie 54(4): 328-335
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-1588 PMID: 129610 Document Number: 87625
In the course of surgical interventions 28 tissue blocks of muscle, subcutis, submaxillary gland and tumors were frozen in situ, using liquid nitrogen and a closed cryoprobe. Specimens were taken before freezing, immediately after thawing, 5 minutes and 30 to 60 minutes later. They were fixed in formaline, embedded in paraffine and stained with hematotoxylineosin and after Ladewig, for better diagnosis of a possible microthrombosis. Comparing the specimens taken before and after freezing we found: no reactive vasoconstriction but dilatation, no remarkable changes of vascular wall, a moderate edema of the connective tissue, abundant bleeding, only in two of 84 sections singular microthrombi. That means no reliable criteria of an hemostatic effect of CRYOSURGery could be found histologically within the first postoperative hour, at least in case of freezing during conventional surgery.