endarterectomy

Endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the atheromatous plaque material, or blockage, in the lining of an artery constricted by the buildup of deposits. It is carried out by separating the plaque from the arterial wall. These procedures are commonly performed in the carotid arteries, pulmonary arteries, coronary arteries, branches of the aorta, and femoral arteries. The goal is for the patient to have restored circulation and avoid complications associated with a lack of oxygen by removing the plaque.thumb|left|Atherosclerotic plaque from a carotid endarterectomy specimen|319x319px Atherosclerosis is a major reason why patients will require an endarterectomy. The accumulation of cholesterol on the interior wall of the artery forms the plaque. Some of the risk factors associated with atherosclerosis are genetics, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, poor diet, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus.

It was first performed on a subsartorial artery in 1946 by a Portuguese surgeon, João Cid dos Santos, at the University of Lisbon. In 1951, E. J. Wylie, an American, performed it on the abdominal aorta. The first successful reconstruction of the carotid artery was performed by Carrea, Molins, and Murphy in Argentina, later in the same year.