Cervical plexus block for carotid endarterectomy followed by general anesthesia for abdominal aortic surgery--a case report.

The aim of this clinical report is to describe the use of sequential regional and general anesthesia for concomitant carotid and abdominal aortic surgery. We performed, in a 70-year-old man, a cervical plexus block for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) followed immediately by general anesthesia for resection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. This anesthetic approach provided adequate surgical conditions. Intraoperative neurological status and cardiovascular parameters were stable and postoperative course was uneventful. Sequential regional and general anesthesia may be an alternative to general anesthesia for concomitant carotid and abdominal aortic surgery. This approach offers an adequate neurological monitoring during the CEA phase of the combined surgery and the opportunity to postpone the aortic surgery should the CEA be associated with a non-reversible neurological deficit.