Transcarotid Artery Revascularization
closed. Patients have been discharged from the hospital in
typically less than two days; often within one day. It has
been noted that TCAR combines safety and reliability of
open carotid endarterectomy with the minimally invasive
features of carotid stenting.
Surgical Services Medical Director for Baylor Hamilton
Heart and Vascular Hospital and vascular surgeon on the
medical staff, Jay Vasquez, MD, states that the TCAR
procedure is proving to be one of the most innovative
approaches for treating blockages in the carotid artery. “The
minimally invasive procedure combines a precise technique
for the skilled vascular surgeon with a unique approach to
carotid stenting. The TCAR device allows for temporary
blood flow reversal protecting the brain from hazardous bits
of plaque that could become dislodged and ultimately have
the potential to cause a stroke. We are pleased to be one of
the first hospitals in the region to bring this technology to
the forefront of our vascular surgery program.”
Dallas campus vascular surgeons have been reported to be the top TCAR volume surgeons in the State of Texas.
In keeping with the long-standing tradition of remaining
on the forefront of treating patients with blockages in the
carotid artery that could cause stroke, the surgeons on
the medical staff are in a small group of vascular surgeons
trained in a new approach called Transcarotid Artery
Revascularization. TCAR, for short, is an endovascular
technique to treat blockages in the carotid artery. Several
of the vascular surgeons on the medical staff have been
trained in this technique and are sought after for this new
skill by others for proctoring. In the TCAR procedure, a
small incision is made just above the collar bone to expose
the common carotid artery. A soft, flexible sheath is
placed directly into the carotid artery and connected to a
highly specialized system that will reverse the blood flow
away from the brain. This blood flow reversal protects
against fragments of plaque that may come loose during
the procedure. The blood is filtered and returned through
a second sheath placed in the femoral vein in the patient’s
thigh. A stent is then placed and the small incision is
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