Table 1.

Characterization of Patients Operated on Because of Atherosclerotic Disease

Patient No.	Anatomic Region	Macroscopic Appearance	Indication for Surgery
1	Right femoral artery	Heavily calcified plaque, subtotal occlusion	Severe claudication
2	Right carotid artery	Tight stenosis, fragile, ruptured plaque	Stroke right cerebral hemisphere 6 d before surgery, and yet new symptoms 5 d before surgery
3	Left carotid artery	Tight stenosis, fragile plaque with hematoma	TIA with symptoms from left hemisphere: dysphasia, right‐side hemiplegia (transitory weakness of right arm and leg). The patient had initial symptoms 3 d preop and even on the morning at the day of surgery
4	Left carotid artery	Very tight stenosis with fragile plaque	TIA 3 d preop with transitory right arm paresis, facial paresis, and dysphasia
5	Right femoral artery	Occlusion of the common femoral artery. Heavily calcified plaque with fresh thrombus	Severe claudication, walking distance 10 m, rest pain
6	Right femoral artery	Occlusive calcified plaque	Severe claudication

TIA indicates transient ischemic attack.