endarterectomy
(end-ahr″tәr-ek´tә-me)
excision of thickened atheromatous areas of the innermost coat of an artery; see also atherectomy.
carotid endarterectomy
surgical removal of atherosclerotic plaques within an extracranial carotid artery, usually the common carotid, done to prevent stroke in patients with 70 per cent or greater carotid stenosis. Patients who have a stroke in evolution or have recently had a stroke are not good candidates for the procedure.

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