1. A surgical procedure in which plaque or fatty deposits are removed from the inner lining of an artery to restore blood flow.
Usage: medical/surgical term; commonly used in cardiology and vascular surgery

Examples

• The patient underwent a carotid endarterectomy to reduce stroke risk.
• Endarterectomy is often recommended when arterial blockage exceeds 70 percent.
• The surgeon performed a femoral endarterectomy to improve circulation in the leg.
• Recovery from endarterectomy typically takes several weeks.
• Endarterectomy can be an alternative to angioplasty in certain cases.