TransCarotid Artery Revascularization

The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. If fatty plaque builds up, it causes stenosis, narrowing the artery and greatly increasing the risk of a stroke. TCAR clears these blockages and restores normal blood flow, actively reducing long-term stroke risks 

 TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) is a minimally invasive, hybrid procedure used to treat carotid artery disease and prevent strokes. It serves as a safer, less invasive alternative to traditional open surgery for patients who are at high risk due to age, anatomy, or underlying medical conditions. 

  How TCAR Works:

• Small Incision: Surgeons make a small incision at the base of the neck, just above the collarbone, to access the common carotid artery directly.
• Flow Reversal: A unique feature of TCAR is that blood flow is temporarily reversed. Blood is diverted away from the brain, filtered to catch loose plaque or debris, and then safely returned to a vein in the groin. This heavily mitigates the risk of stroke during the operation.
• Stent Placement: A stent is then implanted in the narrowed carotid artery to stabilize the plaque and keep the artery open.

Patients who undergo the TCAR procedure recover quickly, typically spending just one night in the hospital. Before you leave the hospital, your doctor will give you advice for activity, diet and medications.

• You will be asked to avoid hard activities like lifting for at least a week. You will be told when you can resume normal activity and return to work.
• Your doctor will prescribe medications for you to take to prevent blood clots from forming in your newly opened artery.
• After stent placement, you will be followed closely to monitor your recovery. An ultrasound will be performed at a later date to determine if any narrowing has occurred in the treated artery.
• To reduce the risk of restenosis (re-occurring blockage) in the area of your stent, you are encouraged to make important diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Some patients may need few modifications while others may need to make many changes. It is extremely important to avoid smoking.

 Carotid artery stenosis often causes no symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they are usually warning signs of restricted blood flow to the brain, a mini-stroke (TIA), or a full stroke. Seek emergency medical care immediately if you experience stroke-like symptoms. 

Warning Signs of Restricted Blood Flow (TIA or Mini-Stroke)

These episodes typically last a few minutes to an hour and resolve entirely, but act as a major warning sign.

Symptoms usually affect one side of the body and include: 

• Facial Drooping: One side of the face may droop or feel numb.
• Limb Weakness: Sudden numbness, weakness, or inability to move an arm or leg on one side.
• Speech Difficulties: Slurred speech, trouble finding words, or difficulty understanding what others are saying.
• Vision Changes: Sudden dimness, blurring, or loss of vision—often described as a dark shade coming down over one eye.
• Loss of Balance: Sudden dizziness, loss of coordination, or trouble walking.
• Severe Headache: A sudden, unusually severe headache with no known cause

 If you need help diagnosing, treating, and preventing carotid artery stenosis,  call River City Vascular Specialists to make an appointment now.