Can atherosclerotic plaques be treated with surgery?

Atherosclerotic plaques can be treated surgically under specific circumstances. When a plaque severely affects the patency of a blood vessel—for example, causing a blockage in the heart or narrowing of the carotid artery beyond a certain degree (such as 70% stenosis, or 50% with associated symptoms)—surgical treatment may be considered. Surgical options include balloon angioplasty and stent placement, coronary artery bypass surgery, and carotid endarterectomy for the carotid arteries. These procedures can directly remove or alleviate the obstruction caused by plaques, thereby relieving symptoms and reducing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, surgery is not the sole treatment option; the appropriate therapeutic approach should be selected based on the patient's individual condition and the physician's recommendations.