Carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomy Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a surgical procedure performed by vascular surgeons used to reduce the risk of stroke by correcting stenosis (narrowing) in the common carotid artery or internal carotid artery. Endarterectomy is the removal of material on the inside ("end(o)-") of an artery. Atherosclerosis causes plaque to form within the carotid artery walls, usually at the fork where the common carotid artery divides into the internal and external carotid artery. The plaque build up can narrow or constrict the artery lumen, a condition called stenosis. Rupture of the plaque can cause the formation of a blood clot
Carotid body central chemoreceptors in the medulla oblongata that are primarily sensitive to changes in pH and P (a decrease in pH and an increase in P). The carotid body chemoreceptors are also sensitive to pH and P, but only secondarily. More specifically, the sensitivity of carotid body chemoreceptors to decreased P is greater when pH is decreased and P is increased. The output of the carotid bodies is low at an oxygen partial pressure above about 100mmHg (13,3 kPa) (at normal physiological pH), but below 60mmHg the activity of the type I (glomus) cells increases rapidly due to a decrease in