Dr. Myron St. Louis (middle holding 200th sign) was honored for completing his 200th TCAR surgery.
Patricia Peer said, "The only person I would go to (for this surgery) is Dr. St. Louis because I trust him."
(Photo of Patricia Peer and her husband Darrell, courtesy: Patricia Peer)
SEBRING, Fla., — Dr. Myron St. Louis recently celebrated performing the leading-edge Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), a minimally invasive surgery for treating carotid artery disease and preventing future strokes on his 200th patient at AdventHealth Sebring.
That 200th patient was Patricia Peer, a 74-year-old Sebring resident, who is a mother to four children, a stepmother to two children, a grandmother of seven and a great-grandmother of two. Peer said she’s known Dr. St. Louis for many years as part of her previous role as a medical appointment coordinator at a local senior retirement community.
Peer said she’s had a long history of cardiovascular disease and so she knew exactly who she wanted to perform this procedure.
“The only person I would go to is Dr. St. Louis because I trust him,” Peer said.
TCAR is an alternative procedure where a surgeon works through a small incision to stabilize plaque from inside the artery and restore normal blood flow to the brain. The carotid artery is an artery in your neck that provides blood flow to your brain and face. The split or division of the carotid artery is a common spot in your body where plaque (fat, cholesterol and other substances) can build up, creating a narrowing or blockage. These blockages can lead to strokes. Most patients can go home the day after the procedure and resume normal activities quickly. Patients at risk for carotid artery disease may have high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity or a smoking habit, or a vascular disease.
Dr. St. Louis has been performing the procedure in the Sebring area since March of 2019. Peer went through the TCAR procedure in February and said she was very happy with the results.
“It went very well, it healed beautifully, it was a piece of cake really,” Peer said. “His office staff is amazing and helpful, they’re really, really good people.”
Peer said she’s continuing to do well today and she’s getting to do activities she loves including spending time with her husband, Darrell, and her family, traveling, and gardening.
“I’ve been very blessed with the doctors’ care I’ve received,” she said.
Peer said she’s also grateful for the care she’s received over the years from Dr. Thomas Shimshak, who serves as the Chair of the Department of Cardiology at AdventHealth Sebring. She said Dr. Shimshak has saved her life before and shared an example she said shows how he will go above and beyond for his patients.
“Before I had the TCAR procedure, they felt I was going to need an angiogram and I said, ‘well then you better get Dr. Shimshak’ and I guess he was about to go home for the day. Then, they were taking me into the Cath lab and all of a sudden, he popped out of a side door and reassured me he was going to be there and take care of me. So, he stayed longer to care for me. That’s just what he does,” Peer said.
Peer said she’s extremely grateful for the care she’s received from Dr. Shimshak and Dr. St. Louis.
“Both of them, (Dr. St. Louis and Dr. Shimshak) are excellent. I’m still here today because of them,” Peer said.
Health experts say It is important to consult your health care provider to determine if TCAR is suitable for your specific medical condition and circumstances. You can learn more about the award-winning cardiovascular care and treatment options offered at AdventHealth Sebring, go to Heart and Vascular Care | AdventHealth.