Covenant HealthCare Named 2019 TCAR Center of Excellence

Covenant HealthCare was named a 2019 TCAR Center of Excellence for improving carotid artery disease treatment using a new procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). TCAR (tee-kahr) is a clinically proven, minimally invasive and safe approach for high surgical risk patients to reduce their risk of stroke.

Thanks to the work of vascular surgeons Dr. Ryan Kim and Dr. Ron Bays, alongside the surgical team, Covenant is one of three hospitals in Michigan to receive this distinction.

Carotid artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis, or a buildup of plaque, in the two main arteries in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If left untreated, carotid artery disease can often lead to stroke. Carotid artery disease is estimated to be the source of stroke in up to a third of cases, with more than 427,000 new diagnoses of the disease made every year in the U.S. alone.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for our efforts to modernize the way we treat carotid stenosis. Having the latest technology in the hybrid operating room allows for this minimally invasive procedure to be available to patients who need it,” says Dr. Ryan Kim, vascular surgeon. “We appreciate the support of Covenant to make this happen.”

Prior to the development of TCAR, the main treatment option for severe carotid artery disease was an open surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy (CEA). CEA removes plaque from inside the carotid artery to restore normal blood flow to the brain, but the large incision leaves a visible scar the length of the neck and carries risks of surgical complications, including bleeding, infection, heart attack and cranial nerve injuries that can cause issues with swallowing, speaking and sensation in the face.

TCAR is unique in that blood flow is temporarily reversed during the procedure so that any small bits of plaque that may break off during the procedure are diverted away from the brain, preventing a stroke from happening. A stent is then placed inside the artery to stabilize the plaque, minimizing the risk of a future stroke. Patients recover quickly and almost always go home the next day to return to full and productive lives with less pain and small scars.

TCAR developer, Silk Road Medical, reviewed hospitals across the country to recognize the centers that have embraced the TCAR procedure. TCAR Centers of Excellence have demonstrated excellent patient outcomes through appropriate patient selection and a well-trained and credentialed vascular specialist team. This recognition demonstrates the commitment of Dr. Kim, Dr. Bays, and the Covenant Surgical Team to delivering the highest quality of care to their community.

Photo of Award with surgical team members

About TCAR

The TCAR procedure was developed by Sunnyvale, California-based Silk Road Medical, Inc. and includes the ENROUTE® Transcarotid Neuroprotection (NPS) and Stent System – the first devices designed and FDA-approved specifically for TCAR. Over 10,000 TCAR procedures have been performed worldwide through clinical trial and commercial use. TCAR has been studied extensively, and the clinical data have been excellent. Additional information about TCAR is available at http://silkroadmed.com/disease-and-treatment-options/.