New Shunt for Carotid Endarterectomy

Abstract

Carotid endarterectomy to prevent stroke in extracranial occlusive disease is an accepted mode of therapy. Although surgery for a totally occluded vessel is unsuccessful, for subtotal occlusion is very rewarding. There is a lot of controversy for the exact technique of surgery. Whether to use a local or general anesthesia is debated. The enthusiasm for adjuvant therapy to protect the brain during surgery with hypercarbia or normocarbia is equal among their proponents. There are equally good results by both usages of shunt and no shunters. ² There are many kinds of shunts that are used, proponents of each claiming good results. My purpose is to report our experience with a new shunt that is used routinely and describing its advantages.