Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
Endarterectomy surgeries are performed to treat advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD most often occurs as a result of atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the gradual build up of fats, cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium, and other...
substances on the inner walls of large and medium-sized arteries. Plaque, the hardened, waxy substance that results from this build up, can cause narrowing (stenosis) of an artery and block the flow of blood and oxygen. Peripheral endarterectomies are performed to reopen blocked arteries and to restore blood flow in the body (revascularization), helping to prevent heart attack, stroke, the amputation of a limb, organ failure, or death.
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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 2005, an estimated 6,989,000 inpatient cardiovascular operations and procedures were performed in the United States; 4.1 million were performed on males and 2.9 million were performed on females.
From: American Heart Association
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