Saint Alphonsus is the First Hospital in Treasure Valley to Offer Innovative Procedure to Treat Carotid Artery Disease

New Minimally Invasive Procedure Prevents Stroke

Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise has become the first hospital in the Treasure Valley and only the second in Idaho to treat carotid artery disease and prevent future strokes using a new procedure.

Vascular surgeons Christine Eden, MD and Graham Donald, MD utilize TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), a clinically proven, minimally invasive and safe approach for high surgical risk patients who need carotid artery treatment.

Carotid artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis, or a buildup 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; it is estimated to be the source of stroke in up to a third of cases, with 427,000 new diagnoses of the disease made every year in the U.S. alone.

“By using the TCAR procedure, we can offer patients a new option in the fight against stroke and carotid artery disease,” said Dr. Donald. “Traditional open surgery can be risky for some patients due to their age, anatomy or other medical conditions. This new technology allows us to treat arterial blockage through a smaller incision that helps lead to reduced recovery time and reduced risk of nerve injury.”

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.

“The TCAR procedure is performed in less than half the time of an open surgery, which limits the amount of stress on the patient’s heart and reduces the risk of the patient having a stroke or heart attack,” said Dr. Eden. “Because it’s less invasive, patients almost always go home the next day with less pain and smaller scars.”

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.

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 20,000 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/.

Dr. Graham Donald (2nd from left) and Dr. Christine Eden (center) with the team that performed the first

TCAR procedure in the Treasure Valley