title: Carotid endarterectomy with mini-invasive access in locoregional anaesthesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the validity of a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with a mini-invasive access via a 3-7 cm cutaneous incision in locoregional anaesthesia as a viable alternative to the traditional access with a cutaneous incision longer than 7 cm.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a retrospective analysis of 76 consecutive patients (Group A) who had undergone carotid CEA in locoregional anaesthesia with cervical mini-access (3-7 cm incision), compared to a preceding series of 95 patients (Group B) who had undergone the same operation through a traditional access (incision > 7 cm). All patients in Group A were examined solely by means of duplex ultrasound scanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No mortality occurred in Group A and the morbidity rate was as follows: 1.3% strokes, 2.6% minor neurological events and 6.5% transitory deficit of peripheral nerves. In Group B, the mortality rate was 1%, with the following morbidity rate: 2% strokes, 1% minor neurological events and 7.3% transitory deficit of peripheral nerves. Statistical analysis revealed the two groups as being compatible for age, sex, associated pathologies and type of surgery. No statistically significant differences emerged between the two series of patients with regards to neurological morbidity or operative mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to being more aesthetically pleasing, mini-invasive access is a viable alternative to the traditional access for patients undergoing carotid CEA in locoregional anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Unit of Vascular Surgery, University of Parma, Italy. alessandro.detroia@unipr.it
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Troia
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Miosso
authors.forename: Lukla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Biasi
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tecchio
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azzarone
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pedrazzi
authors.forename: PierFranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salcuni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods*; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology