By Olean Times Herald staff
Aug 12, 2024
OLEAN — Olean General Hospital has celebrated another first performed by Dr. Thomas Langan, a vascular surgeon. In May, Langan and his team completed the first-ever transcarotid artery revascularization procedure at the hospital campus.
A TCAR is a minimally invasive procedure that is an effective treatment of carotid artery disease. This disease is caused by a buildup of plaque in the two main arteries in the neck that provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain. The clinically-proven procedure clears the blockages in the artery to stabilize the plaque and prevent a stroke.
TCARs are a new procedure that reduce the risk of general surgical complications, shorten the procedural length and time the patient is under anesthesia, as well as yields a faster recovery time.
“Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and worldwide, nearly 5 million people die from a stroke, and another 5 million are left permanently disabled annually,” Langan said. “TCARs will provide a 50% reduction for a chance of a stroke every year for the patient.”
Dr. Jill Owens, president of Olean General and Bradford Regional Medical Center, said Langan has been “nothing short of amazing” as he provides cutting-edge procedures in the Twin Tiers area.
“His experience, charisma, bedside manner, and overall personality, make him the right choice for any vascular needs, surgical and non,” Owens said. “In the few months since onboarding with our hospitals, his ambition and compassion as a surgeon has had a positive impact on our patients and community members.
“Just a few months earlier, Dr. Langan performed the first-ever endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) on a patient,” she added.
Langan earned a medical degree at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, where he also completed his general surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship. Prior to joining OGH and BRMC, which are member hospitals of Kaleida Health, Langan was an attending vascular surgeon at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
His practice is located in the Comprehensive Vascular Center located on the ground floor of 623 Main St. Appointments can be made by calling (716) 701-7035.
Hospital officials said the procedural room at BRMC will also be operational soon, which will allow Langan to perform minimally invasive procedures in Bradford.
Olean General Hospital celebrates carotid artery procedure milestone | News | oleantimesherald.com