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Minimally Invasive Procedure to Treat Carotid Artery Disease ... and Reduce Risk of Stroke!

At The Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Lancaster Community Hospital (LCH)

If you have carotid artery disease (CAD) and are at high risk for stroke, invasive surgery may not be your only treatment option. The Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Lancaster Community Hospital (LCH) can now treat some patients with a minimally invasive, carotid stent system. For certain patients who have CAD, this procedure offers smaller incisions, less pain and quicker recovery times than traditional procedures.

The minimally invasive procedure was recently approved for use in more patients by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“This is a landmark advance for some patients because it can be a safer and much less traumatic way to reduce their risk of a very devastating condition,” says Sam Gadallah, MD, cardiologist and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at LCH. “The patients we’ve treated with this innovative procedure have done very well.”

catheterization Stenting … How It Works
When performing carotid stenting procedures, cardiologists insert a needle in the patient's groin, and then use imaging technology to thread a catheter through the body to the blocked section of the carotid artery in the neck. Doctors then open a protection system — a tiny basketlike device — to collect any plaque and debris that may have been dislodged during the procedure to prevent it from traveling through the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke.

stents Cardiologists then use balloon angioplasty to open the blockage and implant a small mesh tube called a stent. The stent helps keep the artery open while removing the protection device. Patients usually stay in the hospital for 24 hours for observation.

A Safer Option
Experts say the carotid stenting procedure is a welcome alternative to carotid endarterectomy, a type of invasive surgery that, until recently, was the standard treatment for CAD. During this procedure, doctors make an incision in the neck and artery so that they can clear the blockage. This procedure requires general anesthesia, a hospital stay of several days and weeks of recovery.

The recent FDA approval expands the use of the stent system to include:

Patients whose carotid arteries are at least 80 percent blocked.
Those who have a 50 percent blockage and have experienced a previous stroke or mini-stroke.
Patients with significant carotid artery disease who aren’t candidates for open surgery.

“We’re excited to offer this procedure to patients in the Antelope Valley,” says Dr. Gadallah. “Patients experience less pain and scarring and typically recover much more quickly. And it’s an effective treatment option for patients who are too sick for open surgery.”

The Cardiac Catheterization lab at Lancaster Community Hospital features the GE Innova 3100, an advanced 3D imaging and digital detection system that reduces patient exposure to dye and radiation when compared to the previous analog system it replaced.

Fast Facts about CAD

Carotid artery disease (CAD) occurs when plaque builds up on the walls of the carotid arteries in the neck. The carotid arteries are the vessels that transport oxygen-rich blood to the brain.
People who have CAD may be at risk for ischemic stroke — the most common type of stroke. These strokes can occur when the carotid artery becomes blocked, or a piece of plaque or a blood clot obstructs blood flow to the brain.
About one in four strokes are caused by carotid artery disease.
Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability in adults.
More than 700,000 Americans have ischemic strokes each year.

Signs of Possible Stroke

The initial signs of a possible stroke are often difficult to recognize because they can appear in many ways. They may include sudden onset of the following, either alone or in combination:

Cognitive — Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Sudden confusion and trouble speaking or understanding can also occur.
Head/Eyes — A sudden, severe headache with no known cause, and sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face may occur, especially on one side. A visible droop may be seen in the lips or other area of the face.
Arms and Legs — Sudden numbness or weakness of the arms or legs, especially on one side of the body.

If you observe someone experiencing signs of a possible stroke, don’t delay. Call 9-1-1 immediately.

Note: The information on this Web site is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Lancaster Community Hospital, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this Web site.

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