New Minimally Invasive Procedure Treats Carotid Artery Disease and Prevents Stroke
Mega Doctor News
Edinburg, Texas – DHR Health is the first in Hidalgo County to treat carotid artery disease and prevent future strokes using a new procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). TCAR (tee-kahr) is a minimally invasive approach for high surgical risk patients who need carotid artery treatment.
TCAR is a unique procedure that minimizes the risk of a future stroke with faster recovery, less pain and minimal scaring. Board-certified vascular surgeon Jose Andres Gonzalez, M.D., and neuro-interventional radiologist, Patricia Fernandez, M.D., are the first in the county to gain expertise by performing the TCAR procedure at DHR Health.
“TCAR is the latest innovative option available in the Rio Grande Valley offering patients another option for life-saving treatment for carotid disease,” said Dr. Jose Andres Gonzalez, a board-certified vascular surgeon at DHR Health Surgery Institute.
Carotid artery disease is a disease in which a plaque builds up inside the carotid arteries due to deposits of fatty substances resulting in a narrowing of the artery caliber. If left untreated, carotid artery disease can lead to a stroke. Carotid disease can be asymptomatic or it can be associated to a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or major strokes. The main goal of TCAR is to reduce the risk of stroke. Prior to TCAR, the main treatment options for severe carotid artery disease were carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery angioplasty and stenting (CAS) performed through a transfemoral approach.
“By offering this new technique we are able to provide patients all available treatment modalities for carotid artery stenosis,” said Dr. Patricia Fernandez, neuro-interventional radiologist at DHR Health Neuroscience Institute.
As the first functioning Level I Trauma Center and home to only fellowship-trained spine surgeons in the region, DHR Health continues to demonstrate a full spectrum of cutting-edge surgical treatment and technology. In addition to becoming first Joint Commission Advanced Stroke Center in the Rio Grande Valley, DHR Health is a Level I Comprehensive Stroke Center, making them the largest, and most comprehensive team in delivering the best possible outcomes to stroke patients. Ensuring the highest quality of standards, the DHR Health Surgery Institute is the only Center of Excellence in Hernia Surgery in the state of Texas, providing minimally invasive options and expert care for breast reconstruction, gallbladder removal, abdominal surgery, and hernia repair amongst many other surgical services.
If you have been diagnosed with carotid artery disease and would like to schedule a consultation to see if the TCAR procedure is right for you, call the DHR Health Surgery Institute at (956) 362-8170 or the Neuroscience Institute at (956) 362-8500.
About DHR Health
DHR Health was founded in 1997 to help over 1.2 million residents resolve limited health care access challenges in a community that lacked public and county hospitals. Today, it is a modern, 500+ bed full-service health system serving over 280,000 patients annually, with 5500+ employees, over 650 physicians, and more than 1,400 nurses dedicated to offering a full continuum of care in over 70 different specialties and subspecialties. DHR Health proudly boasts the best specialty care in the region, a 24/7 functioning level-one trauma center, a robust clinical research division, and developing graduate medical education programs. DHR Health has revolutionized the health care landscape of the Rio Grande Valley and continues to raise the standard of care and transform the health care delivery model for the benefit of all local residents. To learn more, visit www.dhrhealth.com.
About the TCAR Procedure
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 10,000 TCAR procedures have been performed worldwide through clinical trial and commercial use. TCAR has been studied extensively, and the clinical data have been excellent. Additional information about TCAR is available at http://silkroadmed.com/disease-and-treatment-options/.
