Carotid endarterectomy with regional anesthesia.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Anesthesiology
• Vascular Surgery

Background:

• Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove plaque from carotid arteries.
• Traditional general anesthesia carries specific risks and complications.
• The senior author transitioned from general anesthesia to cervical block anesthesia for this procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of switching anesthetic techniques on carotid endarterectomy outcomes.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of cervical block anesthesia in carotid endarterectomy.
• To describe the detailed technique for performing carotid endarterectomy under cervical block anesthesia.

Main Methods:

• A change in anesthetic technique from general anesthesia to cervical block anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy.
• Observational analysis of outcomes before and after the anesthetic technique change.
• Detailed description of the cervical block anesthesia procedure for carotid endarterectomy.

Main Results:

• A substantial decrease in overall complications associated with carotid endarterectomy.
• Significant reduction in the length of hospital stay.
• Concomitant decrease in healthcare costs.
• Near elimination of non-stroke-related complications.

Conclusions:

• Cervical block anesthesia is associated with improved outcomes in carotid endarterectomy.
• The shift to regional anesthesia appears causally linked to reduced complications and costs.
• Cervical block anesthesia offers a safer alternative, minimizing non-stroke-related complications.