Carotid Endarterectomy
Key Points: Carotid Endarterectomy
CEA is neck surgery to strip the inner lining of a carotid artery of obstructive plaque. The surgeon first makes an incision in the neck to access the narrowed carotid artery. Then the artery is opened and the plaque is removed. Finally, the artery is sutured back together. Once the plaque is removed, the artery diameter is wider, and blood can flow to brain tissue freely.