Dr. Joseph Naoum
Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital is among the first in Clear Lake area to treat carotid artery disease and prevent future strokes using a new procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). TCAR (tee-kahr) is a clinically proven, minimally invasive and safe approach for patients who need carotid artery treatment.
Carotid artery disease is a form of atherosclerosis, or a buildup of plaque, in the main arteries in the neck that supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain. If left untreated, carotid artery disease can often lead to stroke; it is estimated to be the source of stroke in up to a third of cases, with 427,000 new diagnoses of the disease made every year in the U.S. alone.
“TCAR is an important new option in the fight against stroke and is particularly suited for the large portion of patients we see who are at higher risk of complications from carotid surgery due to anatomy, or other medical conditions,” said Dr. Joseph Naoum, vascular and endovascular surgeon at Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital. “Because of its low stroke risk and faster patient recovery, I believe TCAR represents the future of carotid repair for many patients.”
TCAR is unique in that blood flow is temporarily reversed during the procedure so that any small bits of plaque that may break off are diverted away from the brain, preventing a stroke from happening. A stent is then placed inside the artery to stabilize the plaque, treat the narrowing and minimize the risk of a future stroke.
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 has been excellent. Additional information about TCAR is available at silkroadmed.com/disease-and-treatment-options.
Dr. Naoum offices at Houston Methodist Cardiovascular Surgery Associates at Clear Lake located at 2060 Space Park Drive, Suite 112 on the hospital campus. To learn more about Dr. Naoum or to schedule an appointment, call 281.523.2363.
