Tennova Healthcare Participates in Research Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Carotid Artery Stenting for High Risk Patients
6/7/2017
KNOXVILLE, TN (June 8, 2017) – Tennova Healthcare is taking part in a national research study of a new carotid artery stenting and stroke prevention system for patients with carotid artery disease. The purpose of the CONFIDENCE Carotid Stent Trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the minimally invasive stenting system for patients at a high risk for complications associated with the more complex surgical treatment option, known as carotid endarterectomy.
Malcolm T. Foster III, M.D., medical director of cardiovascular research at Turkey Creek Medical Center in Knoxville, recently treated the first patient in Tennessee—and the seventh in the nation—with the new carotid artery stenting system. Approximately 300 patients will be enrolled in the multicenter clinical study.
“The carotid arteries are the major blood vessels that deliver blood to your brain,” Dr. Foster said. “One carotid artery is located on each side of your neck. Plaque buildup can cause narrowing and hardening of the artery—a condition called atherosclerosis. This can reduce blood flow and cause clotting, which may result in a debilitating or even deadly stroke.”
Carotid artery stenting is a minimally invasive technique that involves placing a small, expandable tube in the narrowed artery to widen it. Endarterectomy, the more complex treatment option, involves surgically removing the blocked segment of the artery to restore normal blood flow to the brain.
According to Dr. Foster, the CONFIDENCE Carotid Stent Trial is designed for patients who have been diagnosed with significant carotid artery stenosis and are considered a high risk for stroke following “open” surgery, due to advanced age, other existing medical conditions (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, unstable angina, recent heart attack) or a history of prior head or neck surgery.
“The CONFIDENCE trial is an important component of the comprehensive stroke prevention program at Tennova,” Dr. Foster said. “The study addresses high risk patients who have limited treatment options. The results will complement the ongoing CREST-2 Trial (sponsored by the National Institutes of Health) that addresses moderate risk. Both studies are very important and will improve our understanding of stroke prevention.”
Tennova Healthcare has participated in many research studies to evaluate new therapies and medical devices for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The health system is currently enrolling additional patients in the CONFIDENCE clinical trial. To learn more, patients or their physicians may contact the research staff at 865-218-7535.
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