New Stroke Surgery Arrives in Australia After 10 Years

When 71-year-old grandmother Lindy Penny learned she had a near-total blockage in her neck artery, she faced a terrifying reality: stroke could happen at any moment. But thanks to a new surgical technique just arriving in Australia, she walked out of the hospital needing nothing stronger than paracetamol.

Gosford Hospital on the NSW Central Coast is leading the rollout of Transcarotid Artery Revascularisation (TCAR), a stroke prevention surgery that's been transforming care in the United States for a decade. Australian vascular surgeon Bernie Bourke first noticed the technique 10 years ago, and now he and his son Victor are the first surgeons in the country accredited to perform it.

The procedure targets plaque buildup in the carotid artery, the main blood vessel in the neck that feeds the brain. When this artery narrows or hardens, stroke risk skyrockets.

What makes TCAR special is how it protects the brain during surgery. The surgeon places a stent through a small incision above the collarbone while temporarily reversing blood flow away from the brain. This prevents any dislodged plaque from traveling into the brain, a risk with the standard procedure done through the groin.

Penny discovered her blockage during routine tests for an unrelated condition. Even though she took cholesterol medication and had quit smoking, the diagnosis shocked her. When doctors offered her the new procedure, she didn't hesitate.

About a month after surgery, Penny reports feeling better than before. "I've got more energy, and I'm breathing a lot better," she said, showing off her small neck scar with pride.

The Ripple Effect

Every 11 minutes, someone in Australia suffers a stroke. It remains one of the leading causes of death and disability nationwide. This new surgical option means doctors can now help more at-risk patients who might not have been good candidates for traditional procedures.

Patients typically sit up in a chair just two to three hours after TCAR surgery. The recovery is swift, the protection is complete, and the results speak for themselves.

Thirty Australians have now undergone the procedure across seven hospitals in Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Gosford. The Therapeutic Goods Administration granted special access for the technique, and the Stroke Foundation is currently reviewing it.

Victor Bourke doesn't expect TCAR to replace current methods entirely. "It expands what we can do for patients," he explained, giving surgeons another powerful tool to prevent devastating strokes.

For Penny, the grandmother of six, the innovation came just in time. She's "really grateful" her blockage was found and that something could be done about it.