Carotid Endarterectomy

A carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure used to treat carotid artery disease, a condition caused by the buildup of plaque (carotid artery stenosis) in one of the carotid arteries. These are the major blood vessels in the neck that supply blood to the brain. This buildup can reduce blood flow to the brain and increase the risk of stroke.

During the procedure, a vascular surgeon makes an incision in the neck, carefully removes the plaque from the affected artery, and repairs it with stitches—often using a patch to help keep the artery open.