Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
A complete patient history is essential to diagnosis, particularly information about family members who may have had diabetes or early cardiovascular disease. Symptoms will be important diagnostic indicators, letting the physician know what areas of the body may have reduced blood flow. Blood pressure will be taken in the arms and legs. Pulses will be measured in the arms, armpits, wrists, groin, ankles, and behind the knees. This will show where blockages may exist, since the pulse below a blockage is usually absent. Additionally, a stethoscope will be used to listen for abnormal sounds in the arteries that may indicate narrowing. Blood flow procedures may be performed, including:
- Doppler ultrasonography—direct measurement of blood flow and rates of flow, sometimes performed in conjunction with stress testing (exercise between tests).
- Angiography—an x ray procedure that provides clear images of the affected arteries before surgery is performed.
- Blood tests—routine tests such as cholesterol and glucose, as well as tests to help identify other causes of narrowed arteries, such as inflammation, thoracic outlet syndrome, high homocycteine levels, or arteritis.
- Spiral computed tomography (CT angiography) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRI)—less invasive forms of angiography.
If ultrasonography or angiography procedures were not performed earlier to diagnose arterial blockage, these tests will be performed before surgery to evaluate the amount of plaque and the extent and exact location of narrowing. Aspirin therapy or other clot-prevention medication may be prescribed before surgery. Any underlying medical condition, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes will be treated prior to peripheral endarterectomy to help get the best result from the surgery. Upon admission to the hospital, routine blood and urine tests will be performed.
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Other Information
A peripheral endarterectomy is the surgical removal of fatty deposits, called plaque, from the walls of arteries other than those of the heart and brain. The surgery is performed when plaque blocks an artery and obstructs the flow of blood and oxygen to other parts of the body, most commonly the legs but also the arms, kidneys, or intestines. The peripheral arteries most often treated with endarterectomy are those that supply the legs, especially the aortoiliac arteries in the pelvic area. Other arteries that may be treated with endarterectomy include the femoral arteries in the groin, the renal arteries that supply the kidneys, and the superior mesenteric arteries that supply the intestines.
Other Information
In the United States, 74.2 percent of heart transplantation patients are male, 68.4 percent are white, 24.7 percent are younger than age 35, 20.0 percent are ages 35–49, and 55.3 percent are age 50 or older.
From: American Heart Association
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