ANESTHESIA AND CAROTID ARTERY SURGERY

Only in the past few years as an outgrowth of surgical exercises on the heart and great vessels has interest and information been gathered applicable to the smaller major arteries. I t is obvious that our knowledge of the signs and symptoms of progressive occlusion of one or more of the four extracerebral arteries due to stenosis from anatomic membranes, functional kinking with advancing age, enlargement of arteriosclerotic plaques, or changes in the blood flow from any source is markedly inadequate. I t is now possible on occasions to make some corrections in the bloodconducting ability of these vessels with rather dramatic results. The contribution of anesthetists in these dramas has been in the supporting roles. Among the techniques and agents used are ether, cyclopropane, halothane, nitrous oxide, hypothermia, hypercapnia, local infiltration and cervical plexus block. I t is the purpose of this paper to report the results using cervical plexus block and its modifications for carotid artery surgery.