[Compensation of external jugular vein to the reflux of cerebral blood after bilateral ligation of the internal jugular vein].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of conserving external jugular veins for compensating the back flow of intracranial veins.
METHODS: The rhesus monkey was underwent bilateral radical neck dissection to simulate that performed in the human. In operation, the changes of intracranial pressure (ICP) after ligating these jugular veins was observed.
RESULTS: The results indicate that ligation of the external and internal jugular veins will increase the ICP obviously, but conserving external jugular veins will reduce the increase of ICP and shorten the recovery time from increased ICP.
CONCLUSIONS: The conservation of the external jugular veins will compensate the back flow of intracranial veins after RND. The experiment provides a simple and effective method for the prevention of intracranial complications and preservation of the flow of facial veins.