Via: SCNow
Stroke, a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, ranks as the fifth leading cause of death in South Carolina.
In an effort to decrease the risk of stroke for patients who might not be a candidate for other stroke treatments, McLeod offers a new minimally invasive procedure to treat carotid artery disease.
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Carotid endarterectomy is a procedure performed by a vascular surgeon to treat carotid artery disease. During this procedure, the vascular surgeon exposes the carotid artery through an incision on the side of the neck. The artery, after being clamped on both sides of the blockage, is then opened to access the plaque. The plaque is removed from inside the artery and the artery then sewn back together.
This is an effective treatment for decreasing the risk of stroke. However, some patients have medical conditions that place them at high risk for carotid endarterectomy.
For these patients, a new procedure called transcarotid arterial revascularization (TCAR) is now available. During the procedure, the surgeon makes a very small, one-inch incision just above the collarbone to gain access to the blocked artery while the patient is under local anesthesia. TCAR is a more viable option for patients who have medical conditions that would prohibit them from undergoing an open procedure like the carotid endarterectomy.
Read More: http://www.scnow.com/living/health/article_b174abf0-f496-11e7-ae78-f7dfd6771828.html
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