Mercy Health is now offering a breakthrough technology called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) to treat patients with carotid artery disease and help prevent future strokes.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Worldwide, nearly 5 million people die from a stroke, and another 5 million are left permanently disabled every year. Carotid artery disease is a buildup of plaque in the two main arteries in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If left untreated, the resulting narrowing can lead to stroke. In fact, up to one-third of strokes are caused by carotid artery disease.
TCAR is a unique new technology that treats the carotid artery with a stent to stabilize the plaque and prevent the narrowing, while protecting the brain by temporarily reversing blood flow during the procedure. Any small bits of plaque that may break off during stent deployment are diverted away from the brain and captured in a filter, preventing a stroke from happening. In large studies comparing the outcomes of more than 20,000 patients, TCAR has shown to be much safer and have fewer neurologic complications than conventional stent placement using a femoral artery puncture.
Prior to TCAR, the main treatment option for severe carotid artery disease was an open surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy (CEA). CEA removes plaque that narrows the carotid artery to restore normal blood flow to the brain. TCAR has been shown to have the same safety level and low stroke rate as this procedure, but the advantages are a much smaller incision than CEA, which leaves a visible scar on the neck. Recovery after TCAR is quicker and the post-operative complications – bleeding, infection, heart attack and cranial nerve injuries – are less likely to occur.
“We are excited to introduce this new procedure at Mercy Health – Springfield. TCAR provides a vital option for patients with critical carotid disease, and we are proud to offer it to all patients, regardless of their surgical risk. With TCAR, patients can benefit from the low risk of stroke associated with carotid endarterectomy, while enjoying a significantly shorter procedural time, a less invasive surgery and a quicker return to normal daily activities,” said Michael P. Siegenthaler, MD, Mercy Health cardiovascular surgeon. “We believe TCAR represents a significant advancement in the treatment of carotid disease, and we look forward to serving our community by offering this innovative procedure.”
Patients who choose to undergo the TCAR procedure have to be willing and compliant with taking additional antiplatelet medications to allow healing of the stented artery, and not everyone’s anatomy is suitable for this method. For more information about the procedure, call 937-523-9885.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Worldwide, nearly 5 million people die from a stroke, and another 5 million are left permanently disabled every year. Carotid artery disease is a buildup of plaque in the two main arteries in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If left untreated, the resulting narrowing can lead to stroke. In fact, up to one-third of strokes are caused by carotid artery disease.
TCAR is a unique new technology that treats the carotid artery with a stent to stabilize the plaque and prevent the narrowing, while protecting the brain by temporarily reversing blood flow during the procedure. Any small bits of plaque that may break off during stent deployment are diverted away from the brain and captured in a filter, preventing a stroke from happening. In large studies comparing the outcomes of more than 20,000 patients, TCAR has shown to be much safer and have fewer neurologic complications than conventional stent placement using a femoral artery puncture.
Prior to TCAR, the main treatment option for severe carotid artery disease was an open surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy (CEA). CEA removes plaque that narrows the carotid artery to restore normal blood flow to the brain. TCAR has been shown to have the same safety level and low stroke rate as this procedure, but the advantages are a much smaller incision than CEA, which leaves a visible scar on the neck. Recovery after TCAR is quicker and the post-operative complications – bleeding, infection, heart attack and cranial nerve injuries – are less likely to occur.
“We are excited to introduce this new procedure at Mercy Health – Springfield. TCAR provides a vital option for patients with critical carotid disease, and we are proud to offer it to all patients, regardless of their surgical risk. With TCAR, patients can benefit from the low risk of stroke associated with carotid endarterectomy, while enjoying a significantly shorter procedural time, a less invasive surgery and a quicker return to normal daily activities,” said Michael P. Siegenthaler, MD, Mercy Health cardiovascular surgeon. “We believe TCAR represents a significant advancement in the treatment of carotid disease, and we look forward to serving our community by offering this innovative procedure.”
Patients who choose to undergo the TCAR procedure have to be willing and compliant with taking additional antiplatelet medications to allow healing of the stented artery, and not everyone’s anatomy is suitable for this method. For more information about the procedure, call 937-523-9885.