Simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy in an awake Jehova's witness patient without endotracheal intubation.

ABSTRACT

Complex surgical procedures are associated with a major risk of peri-operative bleeding. Jehova's witnesses (JW) necessitate a tailored strategy warranting the optimal surgical management, in observance to their religion principles. In this report, we present a JW female patient, who underwent combined coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy, with neither endotracheal intubation nor general anaesthesia. Patient had previously undergone bilateral endarterectomy and required a reoperation on the left side. She was also scheduled for revascularization of left anterior descending coronary artery. After an extensive evaluation of all the possible operative strategies, we planned to perform CABG via a mid-line sternotomy, followed by CEA, in the awake patient. There were no intra-operative complications. Hb level, monitored by blood gases controls, maintained above 10 g/dl. The post-operative course was uneventful. In this patient, for the first time, a high-risk CABG procedure and a high-risk CEA were carried out simultaneously, in the awake setting. This approach represented a meeting point between surgical requirements and specific patient's needs. We believe it could be a safe alternative management applicable to high risk candidates to combined carotid and coronary artery surgery, presenting with bleeding-related issues.