60 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com Coastal Vascular & Vein Center is proud to take the lead in offering a new, less invasive and less risky procedure to clear out carotid arteries. Known in the medical community as transcarotid artery revascularization, or TCAR, the procedure was initially only offered to high-risk patients. However, in May 2022, the Food and Drug Administration gave the green light for physicians such as CVVC’s Dr. Sean J. Hislop to offer the procedure to a wider range of patients. FDA approval also meant that private insurance and Medicare could cover the costs. Before TCAR, doctors and patients considered two traditional procedures to remedy plaque buildup in one or both of the main arteries of the neck. Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes plaque from inside the carotid artery in order to restore normal blood flow to the brain, while transfemoral carotid artery stenting is a minimally invasive alternative procedure where the physician works through a tube inserted into the artery in the upper thigh. TCAR is considered to be a game changer. The procedure “protects the brain better,” Dr. Hislop said, adding that it drops the risk of a stroke from 5 to 6% to 1.5%. “I try to be as neutral as possible when I review options with patients. Ethically, doctors should because the data is the same.” “I have not had anyone hesitate to go with TCAR,” he added. “Patients say that they appreciate a shorter recovery time and the smaller incision the most.” Not all patients are good candidates for TCAR. Some may have certain anatomic issues, and some plaques are too calcified, according to Dr. Hislop. “Seventy percent of patients fit the criteria for the TCAR procedure,” he said. “Thirty percent 843.577.4551 | coastalvvc.com CAROTID ARTERY SOLUTIONS: CVVC TAKES THE LEAD Dr. Sean J. Hislop By Lisa Breslin
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