Continuous spinal anesthetic technique for endovascular aortic stent graftsurgery

Endovascular aortic stent grafts were first introduced in clinical trials i n 1991. Endovascular aortic stent grafts are now being used to repair thora cic and abdominal aneurysms in patients not eligible for open repair becaus e of ser,ere medical coexisting diseases. Previously described anesthetic t echniques in the literature for aortic stent graft placement include genera l anesthesia epidural anesthesia, combined single-shot spinal and epidural anesthesia, and direct focal anesthesia. We report the use of a continuous spinal anesthetic technique as a viable anesthetic option for patients with severe coexisting medical diseases undergoing abdominal ao,tic stent graft placement. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc.