endarterectomy

noun

end·​ar·​ter·​ec·​to·​my ˌen-ˌdär-tə-ˈrek-tə-mē How to pronounce endarterectomy (audio)
plural endarterectomies
: surgical removal of the inner layer of an artery when thickened and atheromatous or occluded (as by intimal plaques)

Examples of endarterectomy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The patients underwent carotid endarterectomies, a procedure in which the artery is opened and the plaque is cleaned out. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 At the time, the singer-songwriter underwent a carotid endarterectomy, a procedure to remove plaque from the arteries running through your neck to your brain, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023 Several large clinical trials, involving thousands of asymptomatic patients in the United States and Europe, have shown that a surgical technique known as carotid endarterectomy can remove the plaques and slightly reduce the risk of a stroke, by about 1 to 5 percent over five years. Jeanne Lenzer, Discover Magazine, 11 Feb. 2011 This patient ended up needing a carotid endarterectomy, a procedure that removes built-up plaque from the artery. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'endarterectomy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin endarterium intima of an artery (from end- + arteria artery) + English -ectomy

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of endarterectomy was in 1974

Dictionary Entries Near endarterectomy

Cite this Entry

“Endarterectomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endarterectomy. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

endarterectomy

noun
end·​ar·​ter·​ec·​to·​my ˌen-ˌdärt-ə-ˈrek-tə-mē How to pronounce endarterectomy (audio)
plural endarterectomies
: surgical removal of the inner layer of an artery when thickened and atheromatous or occluded (as by intimal plaques)

More from Merriam-Webster on endarterectomy

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!