Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center offers the most advanced treatment for lowering the risks of strokes and heart attacks. It's called transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR). A potential complication of both surgery (carotid endarterectomy, or CEA) and stenting for stroke prevention in patients with carotid artery disease is a stroke occurring during the procedure itself. Studies have shown a higher risk of stroke during conventional stenting as compared to surgery.
Vascular surgeon Dr. Eddy Luh was the first to perform the surgical procedure at Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center. This makes the hospital the third facility in Las Vegas to offer the procedure. Dr. Luh said, “It is always exciting to be a pioneer in performing innovative, appropriate patient procedures. I'm honored to be the first to do it here at Southern Hills Hospital.”
The new minimally invasive transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedure that uses a special transcarotid neuro-protection system (NPS) is designed to reduce the risk of stroke during the insertion of the stent.
The novel NPS device allows the surgeon to directly access the common carotid artery in the neck and initiate high-rate temporary blood flow reversal to protect the brain from stroke while delivering and implanting the stent.
The TCAR procedure is performed through a small incision below the neckline just above the clavicle. This incision is much smaller than a typical incision. The surgeon places a tube directly into the carotid artery and connects it to the NPS that directs blood flow away from the brain to protect against plaque that may come loose reaching the brain.
The patient's blood flows through the NPS, and any material is captured in a filter outside the body. The filtered blood is returned through a second tube in the patient's upper leg. After the stent is placed successfully, flow reversal is turned off, and blood flow resumes in its normal direction.