Fewer Occlusions for Facial Filler Injected With Cannulas Than With Needles

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Fewer Occlusions for Facial Filler Injected With Cannulas Than With Needles


Filler injections with needles or cannulas are associated with a very low risk for intravascular occlusion events, researchers reported a study published in JAMA Dermatology.

The retrospective cohort study sought to determine whether filler-associated vascular occlusion events of the face occur more frequently with injections using needles than with microcannulas, when performed by board-certified dermatologists. Data relating to patients undergoing filler procedures in the dermatologists’ practices were obtained from August 2018 to August 2019. The primary outcome measure was intravascular occlusion, and occlusion events were graded by severity (no long-term sequelae, or occlusion associated with scar, ocular injury, or blindness).

A total of 370 dermatologists (mean [SD] years in practice, 22.3 [11.1]) participated and reported 1.7 million syringes injected. Among the participating dermatologists, 106 (28.6%) reported at least 1 vascular occlusion secondary to filler injection. The risk for occlusion with any particular filler type using needle or cannula never exceeded 1 per 5000 syringes injected. Overall, the researchers found 1 occlusion per 6410 with 1-mL syringe injections with needles and 1 per 40,882 with cannulas (P <.001).

Multivariate analysis demonstrated that injections with cannulas had a 77.1% lower odds of occlusion compared with needle injections. Dermatologists who had injected fillers for more than 5 years had 70.7% lower odds of occlusion compared with those who were less experienced. The odds of occlusion decreased by 1% for each additional injection per week, and 85% of occlusions had no long-term sequelae. Nasolabial folds and lips were most likely to be occluded, and the mean severity level of occlusions was highest at the glabella.

“In this cohort study, filler injections with either needles or cannulas were associated with a very low risk of intravascular occlusion events,” stated the investigators. “Moreover, the vast majority of such events were minor and resolved without scar or other injury.”

Study limitations include the specificity for board-certified dermatologists and dermatologic surgeons; because of this, the results are not generalizable to physicians in other specialties or to nonphysician injectors, who may have different rates of occlusion. The results may also be less generalizable to cosmetic dermatologists, who comprised a smaller subset of the sample.

“Overall, the study findings are useful in that they provide quantitative estimates of the risk of intravascular occlusion after injection of common prepackaged fillers,” the study authors commented. “Cannulas appear to be less likely to be associated with occlusions than needles…. While increased cannula use may further help mitigate the incidence of occlusive events, certain indications, anatomic locations, and patient needs may favor needle injection. Only the treating physician, after taking into account specific patient factors, can determine whether a needle or a cannula is most appropriate.”

Reference

Alam M, Kakar R, Dover JS, et al. Rates of vascular occlusion associated with using needles vs cannulas for filler injection. Published online December 30, 2020. JAMA Dermatol. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.5102



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