Clinically induced hypothermia with cardiopulmonary support in a high-risk patient undergoing carotid endarterectomy

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Neurology

Background:

• Contralateral carotid artery occlusion poses a significant stroke risk during carotid endarterectomy due to potential hypoperfusion.
• High-risk surgical candidates require specialized protective strategies to minimize perioperative neurological complications.

Observation:

• A patient with crescendo cerebral ischemic events presented for carotid endarterectomy with contralateral carotid occlusion.
• This patient was deemed high-risk for stroke due to the underlying condition and surgical necessity.

Findings:

• Clinically induced hypothermia, managed with cardiopulmonary bypass, was successfully employed as a neuroprotective measure.
• The hypothermia protocol effectively prevented stroke in this high-risk patient during the surgical procedure.

Implications:

• Induced hypothermia via cardiopulmonary bypass may be a viable protective strategy for high-risk patients undergoing carotid surgery.
• This case highlights a potential method to reduce stroke incidence in challenging surgical scenarios involving carotid artery disease.