Acta clinica Croatica
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Acta clinica Croatica · Jun 2008
Comparative StudySuperficial versus combined (deep and superficial) cervical plexus block for carotid endarterectomy.
It is not clear if any technique of regional anesthesia for carotid endarterectomy has an advantage over another. Therefore, we analyzed analgesic efficacy side effects and complication rate in patients undergoing carotid surgery either under combined (deep and superficial) or superficial cervical block alone. Data on 324 patients that received either combined (n = 107) or superficial (n = 216) cervical block were prospectively analyzed. ⋯ Accordingly combined block provided a slightly better analgesia during the surgery which was probably clinically irrelevant. There was no difference in postoperative analgesia and hemodynamic stability. So far, this is the largest prospective study in which superficial cervical block was found to be as efficacious as combined block which is associated with a considerably higher risk of complications.