UNC vascular surgeons first in North Carolina to utilize new carotid stent system

Via: UNC Health Care

On Jan. 8, a team of UNC vascular surgeons were the first physicians in North Carolina to utilize the ENROUTE Transcarotid Stent, a new carotid stent system developed by Silk Road Medical, Inc.

Implanted by Mark Farber, MD, professor of surgery, and Raghuveer Vallabhaneni, MD, assistant professor of surgery, the new stent system is the first device designed specifically for a new procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). This procedure combines surgical principles of neuroprotection with minimally invasive endovascular techniques to treat blockages in the carotid artery.

"This procedure is the best of both worlds, giving direct surgical access to the carotid artery without the risks of nerve damage of open revascularization. It also decreases the stroke risk when compared to transfemoral carotid stenting.  It is a minimally invasive and safer way of revascularizing appropriate patients,” said Vallabhaneni.

Read More: ​http://news.unchealthcare.org/som-vital-signs/2016/jan-14/unc-vascular-surgeons-are-first-in-north-carolina-to-utilize-new-carotid-stent-system