What exactly is "endarterectomy" in coronary artery bypass surgery?

Rare!: Endarterectomy is not commonly performed during coronary artery bypass grafting; but in the strict sense of it, it is the removal of the plaque and really part of the inside wall of the artery during the operation. This by the way, is the common way of clearing the carotid arteries (arteries in the neck).

Endarterectomy: A microsurgical arteriotomy is done on the affected coronary. The atheromatous plaque is removed with microvascular instruments, i normally use 5.5x magnification. The arteriotomy is then closed with a vein patch angioplasty or the distal end of a mammary artery or vein graft bypass using 8-0 or 7-0 microsurgical vascular sutures.