Bon Secours now offers patients with a type of carotid artery disease a new, innovative, minimally invasive treatment option at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital in Henrico County and Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County. The Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) procedure has been successfully performed on patients and has shown great outcomes and recovery times.
During this procedure, the physician makes a small incision above the patient’s collarbone and delivers a stent into the blocked artery. Blood flow is temporarily reversed to protect the brain while the physician operates. Benefits of the TCAR procedure include reduced risk of stroke, minimal incisions and scarring, shortened procedure time and reduced recovery time, compared to more traditional treatment options.
“Having TCAR available to the patients of Memorial Regional Medical Center and St. Mary's Hospital who are at high risk of stroke is very exciting," said William Tierney, M.D., vascular surgeon for Bon Secours Vascular Surgery Associates. "TCAR is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of carotid artery disease and has been proven to reduce the risk of stroke in patients undergoing treatment for carotid artery disease. Some of these patients have an increased risk of complications from traditional carotid interventions and would not have many other treatment options.”
The TCAR procedure is an option for patients suffering from carotid artery disease, which is the buildup of fatty deposits or plaque in the carotid arteries that deliver blood to the brain and head. Individuals who have been diagnosed with carotid artery disease are at a much greater risk for developing a stroke or a medical emergency due to a lack of blood supply to the brain. Symptoms of carotid artery disease may include weakness or tingling in the extremities on one side of the body, trouble swallowing, loss of eyesight, dizziness or unexplained slurred speech.