Intraoperative management of carotid endarterectomy.

First reports on surgical treatment of cerebrovascular atherosclerosis date to the early 1950s. With advancements in surgical technique, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has become the treatment of choice for patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic severe carotid stenosis. Given the benefits that surgery offers beyond medical management, the number of CEA procedures continues to increase. The intraoperative management of patients undergoing CEA is challenging because of the combination of patient and surgical factors. This article explores and reviews the literature on anesthetic management and considerations of patients undergoing CEA.