Carotid endarterectomy without shunt: the role of cerebral metabolic protection.
BACKGROUND
The optimal method to protect the brain from hemodynamic ischemia during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) remains controversial. This study reports our experience with induced arterial hypertension and selective etomidate cerebral protection in a cohort of patients who underwent CEA without shunting and continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring.


METHODS
We reviewed retrospectively 102 consecutive CEAs performed in 102 patients with routine EEG monitoring and general anesthesia between March 1998 and October 2002. There were 65 (66%) symptomatic and 37 (34%) asymptomatic individuals. A protocol of induced arterial hypertension against EEG ischemic changes during carotid artery cross clamping was followed. Only patients with EEG changes refractory to induced hypertension went into etomidate-induced burst suppression.


RESULTS
EEG changes were classified as mild, moderate and severe. Twenty patients (19.6%) developed asymmetric EEG changes, of which the great majority were mild and moderate (75%, p< 0.05). Seven patients with moderate (n=3) and severe (n=4) EEG changes needed etomidate cerebral protection. There were no mortalities and only one stroke (0.98%) is reported in the series. The morbidity rate was 6.8% and included transient cranial nerve palsies (n=5) and wound hematoma (n=1).


CONCLUSIONS
Carotid endarterectomy can be safely performed with EEG monitoring and selective induced arterial hypertension and etomidate cerebral protection. Our results suggest that this method may be a good alternative for shunting and its inherent risks.
Melgar
Miguel A
MA
Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. mmelgar@tulane.edu
Mariwalla
Nitin
N
Madhusudan
Hassan
H
Weinand
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003250:Constriction; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods*; D005045:Etomidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D000925:Anticoagulants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D006493:Heparin; D005045:Etomidate