LAHORE, July 19: A new technique `carotid endartrectomy’ without general anaesthesia has been introduced in the country. Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon of Fauji Foundation Hospital Dr Shabbir Haider said in a statement on Thursday that the technique would remove the blockage in the arteries to the brain under local anaesthesia.

He said the carotid artery disease had the same significance for the brain as coronary artery disease had for the heart. No proper attention had been given to carotid endartrectomy technique in the country in the past.

Before carrying out the surgery, he said, a patient would be administered local anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia.

He said in general anaesthesia, a surgeon had no communication with his patient and if any complication occurred he had no idea and control on it because the patient was not neurologically intact (not in senses), so he could not express or retaliate upon the complication.

But under local anaesthesia, he said, the patient remained neurologically intact and could communicate with the surgeon. And in case of any complication, he said, the surgeon could avoid the complication.