St. Mary Medical Center now offering innovative TCAR procedure to treat carotid artery disease

Langhorne, Pa. – (April 25, 2023) – St. Mary Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery Associates at St. Mary Medical Center has added an innovative, minimally invasive procedure to treat carotid artery disease and prevent future strokes. Called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), the procedure is a clinically proven and minimally invasive approach for patients who need carotid artery treatment.

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 form of atherosclerosis, or a build-up 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. With up to one-third of strokes caused by carotid artery disease, St. Mary Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery Associates offer patients minimally invasive options such as TCAR to prevent future strokes with a faster recovery time and an increased chance of being discharged to home.

“TCAR is an important option in the fight against stroke and is now available to all eligible patients, regardless of their surgical risk status. Not only is TCAR less invasive than open surgery, but there is also less chance of heart attack and nerve injury,” said Maxim Gluhovsky, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Mary Medical Center and a member of the St. Mary Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery Associates team. “Because of its low stroke risk and faster patient recovery, I believe TCAR represents the future of the carotid artery surgical intervention for a significant subset of patients with a severe carotid artery stenosis.”

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 from happening. 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 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.

Over 40,000 TCAR procedures have been performed worldwide through clinical trial and commercial use. TCAR has been studied extensively, and the clinical data have been excellent.

To learn more about TCAR and vascular services at Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, visit https://www.trinityhealthma.org/find-a-service-or-specialty/heart-and-vascular/vascular-surgery.