image_pdfimage_print

June 16, 2022 – It was a normal morning for 63-year-old Tamarac resident Slawek Cegielski until he tried to greet a work associate but was unable to speak.

Slawek Cegielski

Cegielski was immediately transported to Broward Health North where Mohammed Abdallah, D.O., a board-certified vascular surgeon, diagnosed him with carotid artery disease.

Mohammed Abdallah, D.O.

Carotid artery disease is build-up 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.

Cegielski was classified as a high-risk patient because as a survivor of neck cancer he was treated with radiation therapy. Dr. Abdallah recommended an innovative procedure called TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) to treat the disease and prevent future strokes. This breakthrough technology is clinically proven to be a minimally invasive procedure for high risk patients who need carotid artery treatment, pose surgical complications due to age, medical co-morbidities or anatomical issues.

“Due to his underlying conditions, Mr. Cegielski was a prime candidate for TCAR,” Dr. Abdallah said. “With this patient-friendly technique, I was able to make a much smaller incision, alleviate inherent risk factors and decrease the probability of nerve damage.”

During the TCAR procedure, blood flow is temporarily reversed to help divert any bits of plaque that may break off away from the brain. A stent is then placed inside the artery to stabilize the plaque, minimizing the risk of a future stroke.

Cegielski was released from the hospital the same day of his surgery and has since returned to work full-time without any complications.

“Everything went very smooth, and I feel great,” Cegielski said. “Honestly, I do not feel any differently than I did prior to my surgery. I’m surprised at how well I felt after the procedure.”

According to Dr. Abdallah, radiation can cause inflammation and scarring resulting in blockages in the arteries. The scarring poses some challenges with conventional, open surgery. Traditional treatment options such as carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or transfemoral carotid artery stenting have been shown to treat the blockage effectively. However, both options have limitations and can carry a risk of stroke during the procedures and injury nerves. One consideration with CEA is that the large incision leaves a visible scar the length of the neck and may lead to surgical complications.

“Because of its low stroke risk and faster patient recovery, I believe TCAR represents the future therapy of carotid disease,” Dr. Abdallah said.

Broward Health is among the first hospitals in the South Florida to offer TCAR. Your physician may recommend the TCAR procedure if you’ve been diagnosed with carotid artery disease and are not a suitable candidate for CEA. This may depend on your age or other existing medical conditions. For more information about TCAR, visit BrowardHealth.org/Vascular or call 954-759-7500 to schedule a consultation.