[Loco-regional anesthesia vs general anesthesia in carotid endarterectomy. Response to the surgical stress].

The advantages of performing carotid endarterectomy in the awake patient, perioperative analgesia, circulatory parameters, plasma cortisol and PRL response to surgery have been evaluated. Ten patients were submitted to general anaesthesia and ten patients to superficial and deep cervical block. The Authors conclude that, although the number of patients studied is limited, there are no significant differences between the two groups for intraoperative analgesia, hemodynamic imbalance and plasma cortisol and PRL. This result support the belief that carotid endarterectomy in awake patients can be safely performed on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.