Coronary Endarterectomy Surgery is specific heart procedure which is carried out when causes for coronary endarterectomy surgery have been extremely blocked. Although it’s not as frequently performed as bypass surgery in general but it plays a vital part in addressing the complexity of coronary arterial disease.

We’ll discuss the factors that lead to Coronary Endarterectomy Surgery, in the event that it is looked at, and what aspects determine a surgeon or cardiologist to select this option instead of other procedures.

What is Coronary Endarterectomy?

Coronary Endarterectomy (or a stent) is a surgical method employed to remove atherosclerotic plaques from the inner walls of coronary arteries. This procedure is generally performed along with Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) when a bypass alone is not sufficient to restore blood flow because of severe or widespread blockages.

Why is Coronary Endarterectomy Performed?

The most important reason:

to improve the flow of blood in coronary arteries too severely damaged for traditional bypass grafting on its own.
But what’s the reason behind this blockage? Let’s look at the root causes.

Major Causes for Coronary Endarterectomy Surgery

Advanced Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):- CAD develops as plaque forms in the arteries that supply blood flow to the heart. As time passes the plaque becomes harder and reduces the size of the arteries. When blockages are large or long, or calcified they can’t be cleared effectively, leading to the need for an endarterectomy.
Diffuse Atherosclerosis:- Contrary to focal blockages atherosclerosis can affect long sections of the. This makes it challenging to locate a suitable location to graft during a bypass. Therefore, surgeons undergo endarterectomy to open the artery internal.
Heavily Calcified Coronary Arteries:- In certain patients the coronary arteries are too calcified that surgical tools are not able to create a clean graft location. Removal of the plaque that has become hardened manually via endarterectomy is the only choice.
Failed Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCI):- When balloon angioplasty or stents fail or if restosis (re-narrowing) occurs an endarterectomy for the coronary artery could be considered as a surgery to treat complicated lesions.
Left Anterior Descending (LAD) Artery Disease: –The LAD artery can be affected by a variety of conditions and is crucial to heart function. If it’s blocked enough for bypass grafting on its own, then endarterectomy might be necessary to ensure the long-term results.
Multi-Vessel Disease with poor Grafting Options:- In some instances patients have disease in multiple vessels, and there is no healthy artery to transplant onto. Endarterectomy is a procedure performed by surgeons to make a healthier and more functional vessel to graft.

Contributing Risk Factors for Severe Coronary Blockages

High cholesterol
Hypertension
Smoking
Diabetes
Obesity
Heart disease is a family-related issue that has a history of familial origin.
A lifestyle that is sedentary

These risk factors can contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and increase the chance of needing more advanced surgery procedures such as coronary endarterectomy.

When is Coronary Endarterectomy Recommended?

It is typically considered a last resort or an adjunct alternative. The cardiothoracic surgeons advise this procedure only in the following situations:

No bypass options are possible due to significant blockages.
The patient’s anatomy hinders the success in stent placement or PCI.
The chance of leaving an artery that is diseased untreated is substantial.

Conclusion

Coronary Endarterectomy surgery is complicated but life-saving procedure that is recommended for patients suffering from severe blockage of coronary arterial. The causes are based on the degree and the complexity in coronary artery diseases in particular when treatment options for other conditions are not enough.

If you or someone close to you should take this course, knowing the reasons behind it and why will help you make an informed decision.