UNC Health Pardee Offers New Procedures for Patients with Carotid Artery Disease

UNC Health Pardee recently received certification to perform minimally-invasive procedures designed to improve carotid artery blood flow by treating and preventing blockages that can cause strokes. The techniques used can be Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) or Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR), and offer a safe and effective option for many patients with carotid artery disease who may not be surgical candidates.

“Carotid artery stenosis is a build-up of plaque in the main arteries in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain and if left untreated can cause a debilitating or life-threatening stroke,” said vascular surgeon Andrew Sticco, MD, Pardee Vascular Surgery. “For some of our patients, carotid stenting is an appropriate treatment, we are excited to offer this option.”

Pardee is able to offer CAS or TCAR after completing a stringent credentialing process. Compared to the traditional surgical procedure, carotid endarterectomy, CAS and TCAR offer less time under anesthesia, smaller incisions and a quicker recovery time. TCAR uses a unique and novel protection system that temporarily reverses blood flow, which has been shown to protect the brain from a stroke during the repair. Vascular surgeons Drs. Andrew Sticco and Rick Hobson can perform the CAS procedure at Pardee Hospital. Dr. Sticco is also able to offer the TCAR procedure.

UNC Health Pardee is a not-for-profit community healthcare system and is managed by UNC Health. The hospital, founded in 1953, is licensed for 222 acute care beds. Pardee has several locations separate from the main campus, including a comprehensive physician practice network, a cancer center, four urgent care locations and six orthopedic clinics. For more information or to find a physician, visit pardeehospital.org.