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Quick Facts:
Fort Smith
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith has reached a new milestone in patient care with the successful completion of its first transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedure. The less-invasive surgery, performed by vascular surgeon Dr. Brian Rapp, marks an important advancement in the hospital’s ability to treat patients with carotid artery disease.
Carotid artery disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the brain become narrowed by plaque buildup. TCAR is an alternative to traditional open surgery. It uses a small neck incision and advanced technology to guide a stent into place, briefly reversing blood flow to keep plaque from reaching the brain during the procedure. During the procedure, blood is filtered outside the body to catch any debris or particles before returning to the vein. This stops the risk of a stroke during the repair.
With up to a third of strokes caused by carotid artery disease, Mercy Fort Smith offers TCAR to prevent future strokes with a faster recovery time and an increased chance of being discharged to home.
“TCAR represents the next generation of stroke prevention,” Dr Rapp said. “It gives us another tool to treat carotid disease at a low risk to the patient. TCAR enables faster recovery while providing many of the benefits of carotid endarterectomy, or open surgery to remove plaque. I’m excited that we are now able to offer this innovative treatment option to our community, in addition to carotid endarterectomy.”
TCAR, an FDA-approved procedure, has been studied extensively. Published data from clinical trials show the procedure has better outcomes, including a low risk of stroke in even the highest-risk patients. And with the less invasive approach, TCAR has a shorter recovery time. Most patients go home the day after the procedure.
The addition of TCAR reflects Mercy Fort Smith’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to advanced cardiac and vascular care in the River Valley. The procedure is especially beneficial for patients at higher risk for complications from traditional open surgery.
Dr. Paul Bean, chief medical officer at Mercy Hospital Fort Smith, praised the cardiovascular operating team’s achievement.
“Bringing leading-edge procedures like TCAR to Fort Smith ensures our patients are able to receive the highest level of care close to home,” he said. “This milestone reflects Mercy’s dedication to innovation and our mission to improve lives through quality, compassionate health care.”
Patients interested in learning more about treatment options for carotid artery disease can contact Mercy Clinic Cardiovascular, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery - Fort Smith at 479-452-1188.
