Endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove or bypass the atheromatous plaque material, or blockage, in the lining of an artery constricted by the buildup of fatty deposits. It is carried out by separating the plaque from the arterial wall.
The procedure is widely used on the carotid artery of the neck as a way to reduce the risk of stroke, particularly when the carotid artery is narrowed by more than 60%. A carotid endarterectomy may itself cause a stroke at the time of operation, which is why it is not performed prophylactically in asymptomatic patients.
Endarterectomy is also used as a supplement to a vein bypass graft to open up distal segments.
Some forms of pulmonary hypertension may be amenable to endarterectomy of the pulmonary artery. This is a highly specialist procedure.
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Last updated: 05-14-2005 21:47:14
