Nazareth Hospital now offers innovative TCAR Procedure to treat carotid artery disease

Northeast Philadelphia – (May 6, 2021): Nazareth Hospital is now offering a new option to treat carotid artery disease and prevent future strokes using a new procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). TCAR is a clinically proven, minimally invasive and safe approach for high surgical risk patients who need carotid artery treatment.

Nazareth’s first TCAR procedure was recently performed by Westley Smith, MD, board-certified vascular surgeon at Nazareth Hospital.

Carotid artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis, or a buildup of plaque, in the two main arteries in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If left untreated, carotid artery disease can often lead to stroke. It is estimated to be the source of stroke in up to a third of cases, with 427,000 new diagnoses of the disease made every year in the U.S. alone.

"TCAR is a critical procedure in the fight against stroke and can make the difference in someone’s overall wellbeing,” said Michael Magro, DO, MBA, FACOI, President of Nazareth Hospital. "In addition to reduced risk of stroke, patients with carotid artery disease treated with TCAR often recover faster and experience lowered risk of heart attack. We are proud to offer this new minimally invasive procedure to our Northeast Philadelphia residents."

TCAR is unique in that blood flow is temporarily reversed during the procedure so that any small bits of plaque that may break off are diverted away from the brain, preventing a stroke. A stent is then placed inside the artery to stabilize the plaque, minimizing the risk of a future stroke.

Prior to TCAR, the main treatment option for severe carotid artery disease was an open surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy (CEA). CEA removes plaque from inside the carotid artery to restore normal blood flow to the brain, but the large incision leaves a visible scar the length of the neck and carries some risks of surgical complications, including bleeding, infection, heart attack and cranial nerve injuries that can cause issues with swallowing, speaking and sensation in the face. A less invasive procedure, TCAR involves a small incision made just above the collar bone. Typical patient benefits include a shorter and safer procedure and faster recovery.

The TCAR procedure was developed by Sunnyvale, California-based Silk Road Medical, Inc. and includes the ENROUTE® Transcarotid Neuroprotection (NPS) and Stent System – the first devices designed and FDA-approved specifically for TCAR. Over 20,000 TCAR procedures have been performed worldwide through clinical trial and commercial use. TCAR has been studied extensively, and the clinical data have been excellent.

Learn more at: trinityhealthma.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/heart-and-vascular/vascular-surgery/tcar