First outpatient TCAR procedure in the US performed at Oklahoma clinic

Editor's Note

The CardioVascular Health Clinic in Oklahoma made history by performing the first outpatient trans carotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedure in the US, Fox 25 September 9 reports. The procedure, which aims to treat carotid artery disease that can lead to strokes, helped the patient in question address a carotid artery that was 95% blocked, according to his physicians.

Vascular surgeon Jim Melton, DO, co-founder of the CardioVascular Health Clinic, told the outlet he was a key figure in bringing this minimally invasive procedure from Europe to the US back in 2016. According to a 2023 article published in Cardiovascular Interventions, an American Heart Association journal, the Food and Drug Administration approved TCAR as “an alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and transfemoral carotid artery stenting (TF-CAS) for high-risk patients with carotid stenosis.” Between 2016 and 2022, the number of facilities performing TCAR increased from 29 to 606, noted the article.

The outpatient nature of the TCAR procedure done at CardioVascular Health Clinic meant no hospital stay for the patient, reducing the risk of infection. Per Dr Melton, it also offered significant cost savings, reducing expenses by 30% to 50% compared to a traditional hospital setting. TCAR's minimally invasive approach and efficiency make it an appealing option for patients with carotid artery disease, particularly those who might be at higher risk of complications from more traditional surgical interventions.