Carotid endarterectomy: comparison between general and local anesthesia. Revision of our experience with 428 consecutive cases.

Background: This sequential retrospective monocentric study compares the results between general and local anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
Methods: Between November 2002 and October 2004, 428 CEAs were performed in our vascular unit. Two groups were formed: group GA (general anesthesia): 219 patients operated under general anesthesia; group LA (local anesthesia): 209 patients operated under local anesthesia.
Results: No mortality was found in both groups. After surgery, three strokes were detected in group GA and three in group LA (GA 1.36% vs. LA 1.43%, p = .9540); After CEA, there were three TIAs in GA group and none in LA group (GA 0.42% vs. LA 0%, p = .2634).
Conclusion: The morbi-mortality was not influenced by the type of anesthesia used for carotid surgery. No statistical difference was detected in the perioperative neurological and cardiopulmonary complication rates between GA and LA.
(Copyright © 2010 Annals of Vascular Surgery Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)