What is the name of the surgical procedure to remove fatty plaque from the common carotid artery while the patient is under anesthesia?

• A. Endarterectomy
• B. Atherectomy
• C. Angioplasty
• D. Bypass

Answer: (A)

Removing fatty plaque from the carotid artery through an open surgical approach is carotid endarterectomy. This procedure is done under anesthesia because the surgeon needs full control of blood flow and the patient’s neurologic status during the operation. The artery is exposed, clamped, and opened to access the plaque. The fatty material is carefully removed from the inner lining, and then the artery is closed, often with a patch to widen the lumen and reduce the chance of restenosis. This approach is distinct from catheter-based options: atherectomy uses a device inserted through the skin to shave or cut away plaque, angioplasty widens the artery with a balloon (often with a stent), and a bypass would reroute blood flow around the blockage rather than removing plaque from the artery itself.