Augusta, Ga. (October 12, 2023) – Stroke, also referred to as a “brain attack,” occurs when a blood vessel breaks or a blood clot blocks an artery, interrupting blood supply to the brain. Piedmont Augusta has performed its first TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), which lowers the risk of stroke in patients with carotid artery disease.

TCAR is a minimally-invasive procedure that temporarily diverts blood flow from the brain to prevent plaque fragments from dislodging and causing a blockage. Surgeons then filter the blood before returning it to a vein in the groin, and a stent is implanted directly into the carotid artery to stabilize the plaque and prevent future strokes.

“Keeping our patients safe is our top priority and the TCAR procedure helps us do that,” said Charlie Brown, M.D, CEO of Physician Enterprise for Piedmont. “The procedure lasts half as long as the traditional surgery, which limits stress on the heart and reduces the risk of a heart attack or stroke occurring during the procedure.”

Patients who undergo the TCAR procedure have a brief hospital stay, often only one night, and recover quickly. The small incision also leads to less pain and a smaller scar.

“The traditional treatment for blockages in the carotid artery – the main artery supplying blood to the brain – is an open surgery called carotid endarterectomy, but it’s risky for some patients because of age, anatomy or other medical conditions, explained Marat Goldenberg, Piedmont Augusta vascular surgeon who performed the hospital’s first TCAR.  “More than 15,000 TCAR procedures have been performed worldwide, and the data on patient outcomes is excellent. We are excited to be able to offer TCAR as a viable alternative to the Augusta community.”

To learn more about surgical procedures offered throughout Piedmont Healthcare, visit piedmont.org.