Dr. Eddy H Luh first in Nevada to offer innovative TCAR procedure to treat carotid artery disease.
(Las Vegas) Eddy H Luh, M.D., F.A.C.S., is the first and the only doctor in Nevada to treat carotid artery disease while preventing future strokes using a new procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR). This procedure is clinically proven, minimally invasive, and a safe approach for high surgical risk patients being treated for carotid artery disease.
This disease is a form of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque, in the two 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 reported annually in the U.S.
TCAR temporarily reverses blood flow during the procedure. Any small bits of plaque that may break off will be diverted away from the brain, preventing a stroke. A stent is placed inside the artery to stabilize the plaque, minimizing the risk of a future stroke.
“One of the issues we have had with carotid surgery in the past was the technical challenges protecting the brain during surgery,” explains Dr. Luh. “This procedure offers a new way to avoid potential problems.”
Before TCAR, the main treatment option for severe carotid artery disease was an open surgical procedure called carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The large incision left a visible scar the length of the neck. It carried risks including surgical complications, infection, heart attack, bleeding, and cranial nerve injuries causing possible difficulty with speaking, swallowing, and sensation in the face.
The TCAR procedure was developed by Silk Road Medical, Inc. and includes the ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection (NPS) and Stent System―the first devices designed and FDA-approved specifically for TCAR.
Dr. Luh serves as the Chairman, Department of Surgery and is a member of the Medical Executive Committee at Valley Hospital Medical Center. He obtained his B.A. from Cornell University and attended medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Nevada and his vascular surgery fellowship at the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery in the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Dr. Luh is board certified by the American Board of Surgery in Vascular and General Surgery. He is a senior partner with Las Vegas Surgical Associates, located at 8930 West Sunset Road, Suite 300. For more information, visit lvsurgical.com.
ABOUT STROKE AND COVID19
As the novel COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation, hospitals around the country have implemented numerous protocols to stop the spread of the virus and protect patients during this crisis. People’s day-to-day activities have drastically changed to safeguard themselves from the virus, but there is one thing people should not avoid due to the COVID-19 virus – delaying care for life-threatening conditions such as carotid artery disease which may lead to a stroke.
Strokes still happen during a pandemic. In fact, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Worldwide, nearly 6 million people die from a stroke, and another 5 million are left permanently disabled every year. Yet, there was a 40% decline in patients seeking stroke evaluations during the COVID-19 pandemic (cite). Even with the fear of COVID-19, it is crucial to get care as soon as possible to prevent the chance of a future stroke. With up to a third of strokes caused by carotid artery disease, Dr. Luh offers his patients minimally invasive options such as TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) to prevent future strokes with faster recovery time.
ABOUT LAS VEGAS SURGICAL ASSOCIATES
Las Vegas Surgical Associates is a multi-specialty surgical group that offers services across a broad range of surgical specialties. Eddy H. Luh, MD, RPVI, FSVS, FACS has been with the practice since 2009 and is board certified in Vascular and General Surgery with special interests in vascular surgery, endovascular interventions, and venous disease. Visit lvsurgical.com for more information.
