Vascular surgeons can still join the SVS Vascular Quality Initiative’s (SVS VQI) surveillance project to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of trans-carotid artery revascularization (TCAR) in comparison with carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
In a TCAR procedure, carotid stenosis is treated with a stent inserted into the proximal common carotid artery via a neck incision. Flow reversal during the stent placement provides cerebral protection. Initial publications suggest that TCAR may have a lower stroke rate than CEA, potentially due to avoidance of aortic arch catheterization combined with the carotid flow reversal.
Project leaders want to obtain more data about real-world outcomes of TCAR compared with CEA. Additional information about the project can be found at vsweb.org/TCARSurveillance.
Procedures must be performed on high-surgical risk patients (asymptomatic or symptomatic) using FDA-approved or FDA-cleared devices labeled for the transcarotid approach. To qualify for Medicare coverage, data about the procedure and one-year follow-up must be submitted to the SVS VQI Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS) Registry.
Surgeons must be set up to enter TCAR cases into the registry. Sites interested in participating in the project can enroll in the SVS VQI CAS Registry if they do not already participate and obtain the National Clinical Trial identifier required for billing.
For more information, contact vqi@m2s.com or call (603) 298-6717.