* * *
Excision of atheromatous deposits along with the diseased endothelium and media or most of the media of an artery so as to leave a smooth lining, mostly consisting of adventitia. [endo- + artery + G. ektome, excision]
- carotid e. excision of occluding material, including intima and most of the media, from the carotid a.
- coronary e. excision of occluding material, including intima and most of the media, from the coronary artery.
* * *
end·ar·ter·ec·to·my .en-.därt-ə-'rek-tə-mē n, pl -mies surgical removal of the inner layer of an artery when thickened and atheromatous or occluded (as by intimal plaques)
* * *
n.
a surgical 're-bore' of an artery that has become obstructed by atheroma with or without a blood clot (thrombus); the former operation is known as thromboendarterectomy. The inner part of the wall is removed together with any clot that is present. This restores patency and arterial blood flow to the tissues beyond the obstruction. The technique is most often applied to obstruction of the carotid arteries (carotid endarterectomy) or of the arteries that supply the legs.
* * *
end·ar·ter·ec·to·my (end-ahr″tər-ekґtə-me) excision of the thickened, atheromatous tunica intima of an artery. See also atherectomy.Medical dictionary. 2011.