1. Funding: Health Foundation, ESVS 3526 patients 24 countries 95 centres GALA

2. Funding: Health Foundation, ESVS Countries & Centres Austria Australia Belarus China Croatia Czech Republic Estonia Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Israel Italy Latvia Netherlands Poland Portugal Saudi Arabia Slovakia Spain Sweden Turkey UK Ukraine

3. Funding: Health Foundation, ESVS Is it time for a randomized trial of local versus general anaesthesia for carotid endarterectomy? M. J. Gough, T. A. J. Calvey, A. J. McCleary, S. Whitely, A.Bodenham Leeds, UK Non-randomized, patients had a free choice of the type of anaesthetic. LA GA N=89 N=101* 30-day stroke rate 0 (0) 4 (4) Perioperative MI 1 (1) 3 (3) Death 1 (1) 2 (2) *P=0·057 versus LA P=0·046 versus LA for combined stroke/MI These results reinforce the need for a prospective, randomized trial. Background

4. Funding: Health Foundation, ESVS Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 13, 491-499 (1997) Local Versus General Anaesthesia in Carotid Endarterectomy: a Systematic Review of the Evidence C. Tangkanakul, C. E. Counsell and C. P. Warlow Neurosciences Trials Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, U.K. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 12, 173-181 (1996) The Differing Effects of Regional and General Anaesthesia on Cerebral Metabolism During Carotid Endarterectomy* A.J. McCleary, N. M. Dearden, D. H. Dickson, A. Watson M. J. Gough Departments of Vascular Surgery and Anaesthetics, The General Infirmary, Leeds, U.K. Introduction

5. Funding: Health Foundation, ESVS What Happened Next? CPW, MJG Steering Committee Protocol MREC Trial Co-ordinator Funding Pilot: 20 UK Centres

6. Funding: Health Foundation, ESVS GALA - continued Pilot study completed MREC approval for main trial Funding: Health Foundation ESVS Centre recruitment: Journal adverts Vascular Society Charing Cross European Meetings Trial Office: Bridget Colam Anne Fraser Steff Lewis Mary Paterson Vera Soosay Adam Young Trial Steering Committee Data Monitoring Committee