Hand-held toy squeaker during carotid endarterectomy in the awake patient.
A toy squeaker held by the patient in the contralateral hand is used to monitor cerebral circulation during carotid endarterectomy. Regional anesthesia--cervical plexus block--allowed the patient to cooperate and give useful information, especially during the crucial period of test clamping. In a series of 300 cases, during a period of five years, it was instrumental in avoiding brain damage in 6% of the cases.
D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003250:Constriction; D004691:Endarterectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D010988:Play and Playthings