Carotid endarterectomy
Anesthesia type

GETA vs. regional anesthesia

Airway

Endotracheal Tube

Lines and access

PIV x 2 18 ga or larger is adequate

Monitors

Standard monitors, arterial line

Primary anesthetic considerations
Preoperative
Intraoperative
Postoperative
Article quality
Editor rating
Comprehensive
User likes
2

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a surgical procedure for treating occlusive atherosclerotic disease involving the common and internal carotid arteries. The procedure is more effective than medical management for patients with high grade stenosis (70–99%), symptomatic moderate stenosis (50-69%), or asymptomatic high-grade stenosis (≥ 60%). CEA involves making a longitudinal incision along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle to expose the common, internal, and external carotid arteries as well as the carotid sinus. The carotid artery is then opened and the atherosclerotic plaque is removed. Opening of the carotid artery requires occlusion of the proximal common carotid and distal internal and external carotid arteries, which requires adequate collateral flow from the contralateral common carotid artery or placement of an internal shunt between the proximal common carotid and the distal internal carotid arteries. On removal of the atherosclerotic plaque, the media and adventitia of the arteries may be re-approximated or a graft may be used. These grafts are typically synthetic, but vein grafts are occasionally used.

Preoperative management

Patient evaluation

System Considerations
Neurologic Evaluate plaque location and adequacy of collateral flow with carotid angiograms prior to surgery
Cardiovascular Preoperative ECG is useful as perioperative MI is the most common major postoperative complication. Uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, as well as recent MI are reasons to delay the case.
Respiratory ABGs, Spirometry, and CXRs are useful only if otherwise indicated from the H&P
Hematologic Anti-platelet agents (typically aspirin) are typically initiated preoperatively and continued until the day of surgery to prevent perioperative thromboembolic complications.

Labs and studies

Operating room setup

Patient preparation and premedication

Premedication in CEA may complicate the immediate postoperative evaluation for stroke or TIA. Use of preoperative benzodiazepines and opioids should be limited. If a discussion of the operation and safety steps is inadequate to alleviate the patient's fear, a small dose of midazolam is preferred to opioid premedication.

Regional and neuraxial techniques

CEA may be performed under regional anesthesia be performing both superficial and deep cervical plexus blocks with supplemental field blocks by the surgeon. Patients receiving regional anesthesia for CEA have decreased ICU times and may have decreased need for surgical shunts. Regional anesthesia for CEA, however, does not provide cerebral protection afforded by general anesthesia and it makes conversion to GETA more challenging should the need arise.

Intraoperative management

Monitoring and access

Induction and airway management

Positioning

Patients are positioned supine with the head turned away from operative site. Beach chair may be used for comfort in awake patients

Maintenance and surgical considerations

Blood Pressure Maintenance

MAPs should be kept at or above the patient's awake MAP. A phenylephrine drip is a good choice because it's pure α-1 activity decreases the risk of arrhythmias.

Emergence

Postoperative management

Disposition

Pain management

Potential complications

Procedure variants

Variant 1 Variant 2
Unique considerations
Position
Surgical time
EBL
Postoperative disposition
Pain management
Potential complications

References