It has been shown that carotid endarterectomy reduces the incidence of stroke in patients with symptomatic extracranial occlusive vascular disease in the absence of major perioperative complications such as stroke or death. We present a retrospective study of 106 carotid endarterectomies performed under local anesthesia in 100 patients in whom transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke had occurred. Nonfatal stroke occurred in 2%, and TIA occurred in 1%. There was no perioperative mortality. Our study suggests that, under local anesthesia, even high risk patients can be operated safely and the majority of carotid endarterectomies can be performed without the use of an indwelling shunt. Meticulous surgical technique is of great importance for achieving low perioperative complications.